Known for his fiery red beard and relaxed hair that often tumbles to his neck, Chicago Cubs infielder Justin Turner, couldn’t help but bring a bit of humor into the conversation when asked about the Yankees’ policy update. Speaking to Bob Knightingale of USA Today, Turner, a former teammate of Alex Verdugo during their time with both the Red Sox and the Dodgers, suggested that the change might have been inspired by less-than-flattering looks following the team’s stringent rules.
“I wonder what made them change their mind,” Turner remarked with a chuckle. “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’s Struggles and the Impact of Personal Expression
Alex Verdugo, who played with the Yankees last season, was known for his distinctive beard and style, which had to be significantly toned down, including the number of chains he wore during games, following his trade to the Yankees.
The policy might seem trivial to some, but for players like Verdugo, the adjustment was more than skin deep. During his stint in The Bronx, Verdugo struggled, hitting .233 with 13 home runs and a career-low .647 OPS, although he continued to deliver strong defensive performances. His difficulty in maintaining his usual form raises questions about the impact of personal expression on performance.
“It’s kind of been hard, man, because usually I’m used to wearing like three or four [chains],” Verdugo expressed last April, highlighting the personal adjustments players often make. Despite a tough season, Verdugo managed to contribute significantly in the playoffs, batting .208 with eight RBIs during the Yankees’ run to the World Series.
Turner, reflecting on the broader implications of such policies, commented, “I don’t know how that rule makes anybody a better baseball player. Yeah, we’re professionals, but it’s 2025, you should be able to express yourself a little bit.”
A Winning Strategy: Steinbrenner’s Vision for the Yankees
Hal Steinbrenner’s decision to amend the Yankees’ grooming standards wasn’t made lightly. Citing his father’s ultimate goal of winning, Steinbrenner explained that if loosening the hair restrictions could potentially attract more top-tier talent to the team, it was a change worth making.
“Winning was the most important thing to my father,” Steinbrenner shared during a press conference. “If somebody came and told him that they were very sure this could affect us getting the players we want to get … If something like this would detract from that or lessen our chances, I don’t know, I think he might be a little more apt to do the change that I did than people think, because it was about winning.”
The Yankees‘ shift in policy reflects a broader trend in professional sports where personal expression is increasingly seen as integral to performance and player satisfaction. Turner’s humorous take on the situation sheds light not only on the change itself but also on the evolving culture of baseball, where personality and professionalism are no longer at odds but are parts of a whole that could lead to success both on and off the field.
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