GLEYBER TORRES: THE BEARDED ERA

Ladies and gentlemen, Gleyber Torres has entered his bearded era, and honestly, it’s a vibe. Now that he’s out of the Yankees’ clean-shaven clutches, Torres is rocking an impressive beard that screams, “I’m free, and I’m fabulous.” Say goodbye to the baby-faced Bronx Bomber and hello to the rugged, reinvented Tiger.

Here he is now:

With the facial rule gone, Greyber Torres can now rock an impressive beard. pic.twitter.com/OnTXyLZnqB

— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) December 28, 2024

Well, well, well.

Let’s rewind to when Gleyber first burst onto the Yankees’ scene. He was the golden boy, the prodigy, the guy you just knew would deliver in the clutch. And boy, did he deliver—especially in the postseason, where he had an uncanny ability to get on base like it was his job (because, well, it was).

But fast forward to this offseason, and it felt like the Gleyber love was fading. Was I the only one pounding the table and yelling, “KEEP THIS MAN”? Apparently so. The Yankees had other plans, and Gleyber’s grand farewell included a Game 4 home run in the World Series—a mic drop moment for the only MLB team he’d ever known.

Now, he’s off to Detroit, where the beard is thriving, and so is the vibe. Speaking to Detroit media, Torres said, “I feel like I have to play where somebody wants to give the best for me, and I just want to be available to do the best for the team.” Translation: “If you’re cool with the beard, I’m cool with you.”

Apparently, Gio Urshela hyped Detroit to him like a real estate agent trying to sell a fixer-upper: “Great history, lovely parks, you’ll love it here!” Torres is slotted to stick at second base, with Colt Keith sliding to first and Alex Bregman potentially joining the Tigers’ infield party.

But let’s get to the real star of this story—the beard. For decades, the Yankees have been facial-hair police, enforcing a strict “no beards allowed” policy like it was their primary mission in life. Credit George Steinbrenner for starting this nonsense back in 1976, and somehow, the rule stuck for nearly half a century. Players literally had to shave their identities at the door.

Now in Detroit, Gleyber is letting it grow, and honestly, he’s glowing. Will this newfound follicular freedom help him play better? Maybe! Will it make him look cooler while doing it? Absolutely.

Whatever the case, I’m rooting for Torres to thrive, beard and all. May he hit bombs, turn double plays, and prove that a little facial hair can go a long way in redefining a career. 

Go get ’em, Gleyber—you’ve earned it!