After spending his entire MLB career with one team, third baseman Ryan McMahon is stepping into a whole new chapter. The 30-year-old is now a member of the New York Yankees, bringing his talents to baseball’s most iconic franchise.
With new teammates, new coaches and a whole new city to call home, there’s plenty of change coming his way. But before he even takes the field in pinstripes, fans have already noticed something different. McMahon's made a surprising change to his appearance, and it’s definitely turning some heads.
The big surprise? McMahon showed up to his Yankees press conference clean-shaven. That’s right, no beard, no stubble, just a fresh face. It’s the first time in what feels like forever that fans have seen him without his signature facial hair.
Ryan McMahon on this opportunity to play for the #Yankees:
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 26, 2025
“This is every kid’s dream. When you’re nine, 10 years old, hitting wiffle balls in the backyard, you’re picturing yourself in Game 7 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. It’s gonna be very cool.” pic.twitter.com/IV86gDvOiw
For the uninitiated, the Yankees had one of the strictest grooming rules in sports — no beards allowed, mustaches only.
But that all changed in February. Hal Steinbrenner announced that players were finally allowed to sport well-groomed beards, officially ending a policy that had been in place since the 1970s.
Stars like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole were fully on board. The vibe stayed clean and professional just with a little more freedom. However, it seems as though McMahon has chosen to stick to traditions by shaving his beard.
The Yankees acquired McMahon on Friday from the Rockies in exchange for pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz.
McMahon hasn’t had his best season at the plate but brings steady production and is under contract through 2026. In 100 games this season with Colorado, McMahon batted .217 with 16 home runs and 35 RBIs.
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