Yankees closer reacts to new facial hair policy: 'Everyone was kind of stunned'

According to closer Devin Williams, that decision was met with shock in the locker room.

"Everyone was kind of stunned," Williams told ESPN's Jeff Passan. "There were a few guys who had heard it was being discussed and a possibility, but that it actually happened — I'm just looking forward to it growing back."

According to Passan, Williams' openness about his desire to grow a beard contributed to the Yankees' consideration of this change. He'd worn a beard for his six-year MLB career with the Milwaukee Brewers but faced the prospect of shaving it when the Yankees traded for him in December 2024.

Steinbrenner reportedly met with several players about the policy, including Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton and former Yankee and recently elected Hall of Famer CC Sabathia.

According to the younger Steinbrenner, their input all led to the change, which ultimately came down to winning.

"Winning was the most important thing to my father," Steinbrenner said. "And again, if somebody came and told him that they were very sure that this could affect us getting the players we want to get, all we're trying to do every offseason, right, is put ourselves in the best position to get a player that we're trying to get. And if something like this would detract from that, lessen our chances, I don't know. I think he might be a little apt to do the change that I did than people think because it was about winning."