Austin Wells: 'I Brainwashed Myself Into Believing' in Yankees' Facial Hair Policy

Catcher Austin Wells provided some insight Friday into his feelings on the New York Yankees' facial hair policy now that it has been relaxed.

Speaking to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, Wells suggested that he used to trick himself into thinking adhering to the facial hair policy was an honor of sorts:

"My initial reaction is I feel weird. I don't know how to go forward. I think it's not only a policy, but it's the tradition and history of the Yankees. With anything new, there's an adjustment period. But for me, I felt very weird this morning. I don't know how to react.

"I've told myself since I was drafted that it was a privilege to have to shave. I brainwashed myself into believing that and thinking that. I think that's probably why I feel weird about it today because now that it's a possibility, everything I was telling myself about shaving is not true."

In 1976, then-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner instituted a facial hair policy, which stated that players could sport mustaches, but were not permitted to have beards.

The need for the policy has long been debated, but even after Steinbrenner died in 2010, his son Hal Steinbrenner kept it in place.

That all changed Friday when Hal released a statement that essentially signaled the end of the old facial hair policy, as Yankees players and staff are now allowed to have "well-groomed beards."

Since making his debut with the big club in 2023, Wells has had facial hair in the form of his trademark mustache.

After appearing in 19 games in 2023, Wells became a key player for the Yanks last season, appearing in 115 games and slashing .229/.322/.395 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI en route to finishing third in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

Following the departure of catcher Jose Trevino during the offseason, the starting catcher job belongs solely to Wells, and he has a chance to establish himself as one of the faces of the team in 2025.

Whether or not that face is bearded will be solely up to Wells now that the Yankees have decided to start a new tradition after nearly 50 years of not allowing beards.