Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Yankees

Yankees star breaks team’s facial hair policy, prompting social media reaction

When Devin Williams was traded to the New York Yankees, he needed to bust out the razor.

The Yanks, of course, have had a long-withstanding policy since George Steinbrenner owned the team that players must not don facial hair below their lower lip.

So, the lights out closer needed to get rid of his healthy beard, prompting an entirely different look.

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Devin Williams is stretching the Yankees’ facial hair rule. (IMAGN)

However, after just one week in Tampa, Williams appeared to have forgotten to shave Tuesday morning, as he rocked some peach fuzz.

Naturally, it drew the ire of lots of Yankee fans on social media.

Newcomer Paul Goldschmidt also needed to shave, which left him looking like he “added 30 years on his life,” said one more account.

New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) participates in spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

YANKEES’ AARON JUDGE DISAGREES WITH JUAN SOTO’S BELIEF THAT METS GIVE HIM BEST CHANCE TO WIN TITLE

When Williams was asked about being clean-shaven, he replied simply, “It is what it is.” It was the first time he shaved his beard in six years. In fact, he actually arrived to camp unshaven.

Plenty of Yankee stars have rocked mustaches, most notably Don Mattingly and Goose Gossage, but beards have been a topic of conversation, and sometimes controversy. CC Sabathia was rather irked a few years ago when former top prospect Clint Frazier rocked long hair from his head, which also must be maintained. So Sabathia retaliated by rocking a slight beard.

The Hall of Famer has rocked a beard ever since he retired, and even Derek Jeter has some facial hair now. Plenty of Yankees grow facial hair in the offseason and if they join another team.

New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) participates in spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

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The policy led to a makeover for Johnny Damon in 2005, and general manager Brian Cashman ruled out closer Brian Wilson over a decade ago because he said Wilson refused to shave his patented beard.

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February 19, 2025
Yankees’ Aaron Judge talks Mets’ Juan Soto’s playoff belief

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge thinks the Yankees have a better chance of winning the World Series than their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets.

Judge, 32, was asked about his former teammate, Juan Soto, and Soto’s apparent conclusion that he had a better chance to win with the Mets than the Yankees.

“That’s his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him. I wasn’t too surprised by it, I think that’s where he wanted to be,” Judge said to reporters on Monday during a press conference.

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, #99, smiles during spring training batting practice at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Dave Nelson-Imagn Images)

Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets this offseason. If Soto opts out after the fifth year of his contract, the Mets can void it by making the total value of the contract $805 million.

“The Mets are a great organization and what they have done in the past couple of year showing the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team, to try and grow a dynasty, is one of the most important things,” Soto said when asked why he chose to sign with the Mets in free agency.

Soto’s deal is the richest contract in the history of professional sports, and Judge said Monday he is happy for his former teammate.

“I think that’s where is best for him and his family. He got a pretty nice deal over there, you can’t say no that. But I’m happy for him, he got a good deal. He’s going to be in a great spot. It’s going to be great having him in town. We are going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years. I’m definitely happy for him,” Judge said.

Judge and Soto were the big leagues’ best duo last season.

Judge won the American League MVP after clubbing a league high 58 home runs and driving in the most runs in baseball (144) while maintaining a sparkling .322 batting average.

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New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto, #22, looks on after taking batting practice during a spring training workout at Clover Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Soto finished third in the AL MVP race, as he had the best season of his career while hitting in front of Judge.

Soto hit a career high 41 home runs and hit .288, while getting on base at a .419 clip.

Judge knows it is impossible to replace Soto, but he likes what the Yankees have done to make up for his loss.

“Soto is one-of-a-kind man, he’s a special player. Excited for him and his new chapter with the Mets, but we added a lot of new pieces here, starting with (Cody) Bellinger and (Paul) Goldschmidt. Two guys that are former MVP’s, guys that are still wanting to improve, still want to get better,” Judge said.

WORLD SERIES CHAMPION BOBBY JENKS BATTLING STOMACH CANCER

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, #99, hits a ball during spring training batting practice at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Dave Nelson-Imagn Images)

“They are going to add such a different dynamic to this team. It really lengthens our whole lineup when you have those guys batting in the middle of your order a lot of good things are going to happen. You can’t replace a guy like Juan Soto, but you bring in guys like this that are All Star, MVP caliber players.”

The Yankees acquired Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs and signed Goldschmidt to a one-year deal in free agency.

Bellinger won the 2019 NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has spent the last two seasons with the Cubs.

Bellinger hit .266 and hit 18 home runs with the Cubs last season, and he plays a strong centerfield.

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New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto, #22, takes batting practice during a spring training workout at Clover Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Goldschmidt won the NL MVP in 2022 but struggled last season as he got off a slow start before bouncing back. He hit .245 with 22 home runs in 154 games last season.

Those two will be tasked with replacing the hole Soto left in the Yankees lineup, as they try to make it back to the World Series after losing to the Dodgers in five games.

Soto will be relied upon to anchor the Mets lineup alongside Francisco Lindor, as the Mets have World Series aspirations after a surprise run to the NLCS last season.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 18, 2025
Yankees prospect taken to hospital due to allergic reaction at spring training

A New York Yankees minor league team had a health scare before their first spring training practice for pitchers and catchers.

Non-roster pitcher Eric Reyzelman was hospitalized due to an allergic reaction. Reyzelman, 23, was taken to a hospital in Tamoa, Florida, in an ambulance around 10 a.m. ET to assist a person with a respiratory issue, per NorthJersey.com.

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A general view of rain falling on the New York Yankees logo on the first base dugout roof during a rain delay in the game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Reyzelman’s reaction was apparently related to a peanut allergy, per the report. “He’ll be kept overnight for observation, and we’ll have another update likely (Thursday),” Yankees team spokesperson Jason Zillo said via NJ.com.

The team did not announce what caused Reyzelman’s reaction, with Zillo saying there is “uncertainty.”

Reyzelman received an invitation to Yankees spring training as a non-roster player after dominating the minor leagues last year. With a fastball that touches up to 99 miles per hour, Reyzelman had a 1.16 ERA across three levels of minor league baseball across 38.2 innings.

ALEX BREGMAN FINALLY FINDS NEW HOME IN RED SOX AFTER STRENUOUS FREE AGENCY: REPORTS

LSU pitcher Eric Reyzelman, #22, pitches as the Kentucky Wildcats take on LSU Tigers during the SEC baseball tournament at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama, on Saturday, May 28, 2022. (IMAGN)

In 15.1 innings with the Florida Complex League Yankees in rookie ball and the High-A Hudson Valley Renegade’s, Reyzelman gave up just four hits and struck out a whopping 26 batters.

In Double-A with the Somerset Patriots, Reyzelman continued to dominate as he gave up just five earned runs and 14 hits in 23.1 innings. He continued to rack up the strikeouts, ringing up 37 hitters via strikeouts.

The Yankees bullpen is set up to be one of the best in the league, leaving Reyzelman a slim chance at best to make the opening day roster.

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Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Devin Williams, #38, reacts after pitching in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field. (Benny Sieu-Imagn Images)

The team acquired two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers to pair with playoff star Luke Weaver in the back end of their bullpen.

In addition to Williams and Weaver, the Yankees also have Ian Hamilton, Tim Hill, Mark Leiter Jr., Jonathan Loáisiga and Fernando Cruz to fill-out their bullpen.

Opening Day is just about a month and a half away, when the Yankees host the Brewers on March 27.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
Yankees manager takes shot at Dodgers, alleges lack of ‘class’ with World Series title talk

If the New York Yankees played clean defense in the World Series, there is a very decent chance they could have been headed to Los Angeles with a 3-2 series lead.

But, they lost Games 1 and 5 largely in part to poor fielding, and thus, the Los Angeles Dodgers were champs, winning the Fall Classic in the Bronx.

After winning it all, many members of the Dodgers were quick to remind everyone of just how they did it – by taking advantage of the Yankees’ mistakes (and the Fat Joe curse).

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone speaks during a news conference during the World Series against the Dodgers, Oct. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

It was even reported that the Dodgers studied the Yankees’ defensive and baserunning shortcomings en route to their 4-1 series victory.

Well, the Yankees have had time to dissect those comments, and with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone was asked about the remarks.

He admitted his players took the comments personally, but the Dodgers had a right to say “whatever they want as the champion.”

New York outfielder Aaron Judge makes a fielding error in game five of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

ALEX BREGMAN ISN’T THE FIRST MLB ALL-STAR WHOSE FREE AGENCY WENT TO FEBRUARY

“I did not like it.… I’m not gonna lie and say I liked it, and hopefully we’re in a position to be where they were. They’re the champs, and the reality is that they have the right to say whatever they want as the champion. Hopefully we’re in that position this time next year, and hopefully we handle it with a little more class,” Boone told Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay on ESPN New York radio.

He added to reporters in Tampa that the Yankees “didn’t play our best in that series, and they won.”

To make matters worse, the Yanks did lose Juan Soto to their crosstown rival Mets in free agency – although he isn’t exactly elite with the glove.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts celebrates with players and staff after winning the 2024 MLB World Series against the Yankees in New York. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

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But they pivoted quite nicely by signing Cy Young Award candidate Max Fried and 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt while trading for dominant closer Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger, who was the NL MVP of the 2019 season.

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February 11, 2025