The New York Yankees will look different in 2025, and we’re not only talking about the absence of Juan Soto.
The storied organization on Friday revealed it tweaked its longstanding facial hair policy. Uniformed members of the Yankees now are permitted to sport beards, as long as they are “well-groomed.” The previous rule, which limited facial hair to only mustaches, had been in place since 1973.
Justin Turner has never played for the Yankees, but as a seasoned veteran who has long rocked long hair and a burly beard, the two-time All-Star was asked by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale to give his take on the update in the Bronx. Turner, who thought it was “about time” New York amended the policy, couldn’t give his two cents without taking a playful jab at a former Boston Red Sox teammate.
“I wonder what made them change their mind,” Turner told Nightengale. “Did someone look so bad without a beard that they’re like, ‘We got to change this?’ Was it Alex Verdugo? He looked terrible.”
Verdugo surprisingly bought into the Yankees’ previous facial hair policy upon joining New York, as he felt it “rejuvenated” him. The clean-shaven look certainly didn’t help his performance, though, as he batted a career-worst .233 and nearly lost his job to a prospect. Verdugo’s challenging campaign in pinstripes ultimately culminated with him making the final out of the Yankees’ 2024 World Series loss.
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The down season also took a significant toll on Verdugo’s stock, as the 28-year-old remained a free agent as of Monday.
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