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As the 2025 baseball season inches closer, pitchers and catchers have begun reporting to spring training camps across the warmer states this week. Among the early arrivals were the New York Yankees, who gathered in Florida on Wednesday, offering fans their first glimpse of newly acquired reliever Devin Williams—sporting a surprisingly clean-shaven look.
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Williams, who was traded to the Yankees this offseason after spending the first six years of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers, had become known for his signature beard, a staple of his appearance throughout his time in the majors. In fact, he was still sporting the facial hair as recently as Tuesday. But by the time he took the field for his first throwing session on Wednesday, the beard was gone.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions about the Yankees stationing a staff member at the clubhouse door with a razor and a can of Barbasol, there’s video evidence confirming that Williams entered the facility with his beard intact. However, as any Yankees fan knows, the team’s longstanding grooming policy prohibits facial hair below the lip, meaning Williams had to lose the beard before donning the iconic pinstripes.
It’s remarkable that in 2025, the Yankees are still enforcing this decades-old policy, but Williams is far from the first high-profile player to comply. From legends like Randy Johnson and Johnny Damon to more recent stars like Andrew Miller, the Yankees’ no-beard rule has become a rite of passage for newcomers. While some fans and players might view the policy as outdated, it remains a non-negotiable part of the franchise’s identity—and Williams is just the latest to embrace the tradition, even if it meant saying goodbye to his signature look.
As the Yankees gear up for what they hope will be a championship-caliber season, Williams’ clean-shaven debut serves as a reminder that some things in baseball—like the Yankees’ grooming standards—never change.
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