The New York Yankees clubhouse is not foreign to interesting pre-season traditions. Whether it is Derek Jeter’s stretching routine or Gary Sanchez’s pre-game rituals, a little quirkiness is the norm in the clubhouse. This year, what stole the spotlight was Gleyber Torres‘ facial hair – but then it vanished just as quickly. 

It was a surprising sight when the 27-year-old was seen sporting a mustache; it was the first time for the young infielder. On one hand, his teammates, including skipper Aaron Boone, offered playful jabs. On the other, his family wasn’t really thrilled with this stash. Keeping his people’s mixed feelings aside, why did Torres get rid of his mustache? 

Gleyber Torres Reveals the Strange Reason Behind His Clean-Shaven Look

In a casual exchange of words, he revealed the drive behind this move. Turns out, it all boils down to a powerful force – superstition. Torres’s words were “I’m the superstitious guy, so last year, I got a good year without a mustache. I don’t wanna, you know, mess around with that.” 

And boy, did he play well! 2023 proved to be a great year for Torres, with the most games played, most home runs, and most RBIs of his career. Not to mention his second-highest OPS. He also displayed a positive change in his walk and strikeout rates. If he feels removing his facial hair could lead him to perform similarly, then so be it. 

Torres has his eyes on the prize in 2024. He has proved that he trained diligently throughout the winter, driven by a desire to make this year his best yet. This has been visible enough that even Aaron Boone said, “I’m excited for Gleyber. I think he’s going to have a great year.”

One must not forget that Torres is entering his prime and perhaps this will be his final year with the Yankees before free agency. Having said that, it’s evident that he is motivated by the ultimate prize, like never before. 

An Interesting Path Lies Ahead For Torres

On one hand, Torres cherishes his time in the Bronx and hopes to stay. On the other, the team’s strategy was clear – to evaluate him throughout the entire season. This only means one thing – proving his worth. One only hopes a clean shave can help him clear his mission. 

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As the regular season approaches, Torres symbolizes his unwavering focus on the year up ahead. Carrying the awareness that the road to a championship will be tough, he has set out on the journey with a renewed commitment. His 2024 season would be an interesting one to closely follow.