TAMPA – In a surprising turn of events, Devin Williams, the New York Yankees' new closer, expressed his delight over the organization's decision to relax its longstanding facial hair policy. This change comes after Williams, who joined the Yankees from the Brewers in December, spoke with Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman to express his preference for keeping his beard.
For nearly 50 years, the Yankees maintained a strict policy against facial hair. However, by Friday, the organization announced a shift, much to the pleasant surprise of players like Devin Williams. "It's been a long tradition, which I respect," Williams commented from inside the Yankees clubhouse at Steinbrenner Field. "I'm just happy with the decision Steinbrenner made."
Williams, who had shaved his beard while keeping a mustache in adherence to the policy during the initial days of workouts, expressed his preference for a beard, stating, "Personally, that's my preferred look. That's how I feel most comfortable for myself."
The policy change could significantly impact Williams' future decisions, as he will be a free agent at the end of the season. "It's something that I would consider, for sure," Williams noted. "It's definitely a conversation when that comes up when you're talking about coming here. It's something everyone's well aware of, and some guys aren't OK with it."
Williams, having been traded to the Yankees rather than choosing to sign with them, faced a unique challenge. He adhered to the policy by shaving his beard last week but was relieved by the recent change. "I obviously shaved my beard, so I was complying with the policy," he said. "But now I'm glad that it's changed."
Aaron Judge, another prominent figure in the Yankees roster, expressed his initial shock at the decision but understood the rationale behind it. Steinbrenner aimed to ensure the team did not miss out on potential players due to the policy. However, Judge emphasized the importance of maintaining other team rules.
"That was one of my big things – rules are all about discipline, especially playing with the Yankees," Judge stated. "Especially playing with the Yankees, it's a disciplined group. That's one thing I learned all the way from the minor leagues up, you have those certain rules that teach you discipline, teach you a certain way. That was my big concern, is I didn't want a lot of these rules to start changing. A lot of these separate us and make the New York Yankees the standard."
