Aaron Judge Says He Won't Grow Beard Amid Yankees' Relaxed Facial Hair Policy

Despite the New York Yankees' decision to ease their facial hair policy this week, the face of the franchise will not be a bearded one during the 2025 season.

According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, Yankees captain Aaron Judge said Saturday that he will not grow out his facial hair even though he is now free to do so.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner released a statement Friday in which he declared that Yankees players and staff will now be permitted to sport "well-groomed beards" after careful consideration and discussions with current and former players:

The late George Steinbrenner, who was Hal's father and the Yankees' owner from 1973 to 2010, first instituted a facial hair and appearance policy in 1976.

While Yankees players were allowed to have mustaches, beards were banned, which led to many being forced to shave upon signing with or getting traded to the organization.

Closer Devin Williams, who had always sported facial hair during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, was the latest player to adhere to the Yankee rule and tradition after New York acquired him this offseason.

However, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Williams got the ball rolling on the facial hair policy change by having conversations with manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman.

Those conversations eventually made their way to Steinbrenner, and he ultimately decided to make a change, noting that he didn't want a ban on facial hair to "affect us getting the players we want to get."

While Williams and some others who previously sported beards are free and clear to do so again, the reigning American League MVP will not follow suit.

Coming off a 2024 season in which he slashed .322/.458/.701 with 58 home runs and 144 RBI, Judge will continue to carry on a Yankee tradition of the past.