Players’ Weekend is one of my favorite kinds of projects because it gives athletes a chance to show more of who they are beyond the uniform. The cleats become more than part of the game-day look. They become a way to tell a story.
For this year’s Players’ Weekend, I had the opportunity to create three custom cleat designs for Gleyber Torres, Troy Melton, and Kevin McGonigle. Each player had a completely different direction, which made the project even more special. One pair honored Venezuela and brought awareness to relief efforts after tragedy. One pair was inspired by Orange County, California. One pair leaned fully into Detroit and Motor City energy.
Three players. Three stories. Three completely different custom cleat designs.
Gleyber Torres: For Venezuela
Gleyber Torres’ cleats were created as a tribute to his home country, Venezuela, and as a way to bring awareness to relief efforts after the earthquakes. This pair was emotional from the beginning because the direction was not just about making something look cool. It was about representing strength, support, and the people impacted by tragedy.
One side of the cleats featured a ground covered in debris from collapsed buildings, with rescue workers removing rubble and searching for survivors. Next to them, I included a human chain of people helping one another. Some silhouettes were filled with the colors of the Venezuelan flag, while others were filled with the colors of the U.S. flag, representing the idea that even those living abroad are still helping their people after the tragedy.
Another important part of the design was Tsunami, the rescue dog. Tsunami was rescued from abusive owners and later trained to find people after natural disasters. Unofficially, Tsunami found more than 350 people alive under the debris after the earthquakes. Including him on the cleats made the pair feel even more powerful because he represents survival, hope, and the lives saved through rescue efforts.
The phrase “¡No están solos!” was also included on the cleats. More than 80,000 people shouted this message during a FIFA World Cup game in Mexico regarding Venezuela, reminding the Venezuelan people that they are not alone.
This pair became a visual tribute to Venezuela, the rescue efforts, and the people who continue to show up for one another in the middle of tragedy.
Kevin McGonigle: The Spirit of Detroit
Kevin McGonigle wanted Detroit-themed cleats that would match the color palette of the Tigers road uniforms. The direction was open, which gave me room to build something that felt very Detroit while still working with the grey, navy, black, white, and orange tones connected to the road uniform look.
Since he planned to wear these beyond Players’ Weekend, the design needed to feel connected to Detroit without being too limited to one weekend or one moment. I leaned into Motor City iconography and details that felt recognizable, gritty, and tied to the city.
The cleats included the iconic Old English “D,” the Detroit skyline, the Ambassador Bridge, the 8 Mile Road sign, and the Spirit of Detroit holding a baseball. I also added 313 and KM7 as smaller personal details. KM7 is something Kevin already had on a custom bat and uses almost like a moniker, so it made sense to include it in the design.
This pair had a strong Detroit feel; bold, gritty, and graphic, while still being clean enough to work with the road uniform color palette. Every detail was meant to connect Kevin’s cleats back to the city, the team, and the energy of playing in Detroit.
Troy Melton: Orange County Roots
Troy Melton’s cleats were themed around where he is from: Orange County, California.
The direction was all about bringing in the feeling of home. We talked about classic Orange County motifs like palm trees and surfboards, and he specifically mentioned Newport Beach, where he was born, and Huntington Beach. He also brought up the Huntington Beach Pier and the red-roofed Ruby’s diner that used to sit at the end of it.
For this pair, I wanted the design to feel warm, coastal, and personal without becoming too literal or overcrowded. Orange became a big part of the color palette, both as a nod to Orange County and as a subtle connection to the orange in the Tigers uniforms. The final direction leaned into a sunset-inspired feel with beach details, palm trees, surf energy, and references to the places that shaped him.
Troy’s pair was completely different from Gleyber’s and Kevin’s. It had more of a laid-back California energy, but still felt bold enough for the field.
Three Different Stories, One Players’ Weekend Project
What I loved most about this project was how different each pair wa
Gleyber’s cleats were cause-driven and deeply emotional, honoring Venezuela, the rescue efforts, and the message “¡No están solos!”
Kevin’s cleats were rooted in Detroit, pulling in Motor City references, the Spirit of Detroit, 313, 8 Mile, and his KM7 detail.
Troy’s cleats brought in Orange County, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, palm trees, surfboards, and a warm California-inspired color palette.
That variety is exactly what makes custom cleats so special. The surface is small, but the story can be huge. Every panel, color, symbol, and phrase has to be intentional because there is only so much space to work with.
Why Custom Cleats Matter
Custom cleats give athletes a way to carry their story with them. A pair can represent a hometown, a cause, a family member, a city, a memory, or something that fans may not know just from watching the game.
That is why I love creating them. It is not just about painting shoes. It is about turning something wearable into something personal.
These three Detroit Tigers Players’ Weekend cleats were such a meaningful project because each pair had its own purpose. They showed how different custom footwear can be depending on the person wearing it.
For Gleyber, it was about Venezuela and awareness.
For Kevin, it was about Detroit and Motor City pride.
For Troy, it was about home and Orange County roots.
Custom Cleats by Just by Juliana
Custom footwear is where Just by Juliana started, so projects like this always feel full circle. What began with painting sneakers has grown into athlete cleats, sports collaborations, murals, canvases, apparel, and large-scale custom artwork.
These Players’ Weekend cleats for Gleyber Torres, Troy Melton, and Kevin McGonigle are a reminder of why I love this work: every athlete has a story, and every pair can become a canvas.
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