MINNEAPOLIS -- Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater may no longer be Giants teammates, but the veteran outfielders are still teaming up off the field to keep alive one of their signature traditions: Mustache May.
For the fifth consecutive year, Yastrzemski and several other San Francisco players are growing out their facial hair and selling special Mustache May T-shirts to raise awareness for mental health. All proceeds from the Giants-themed T-shirts will benefit the Heart and Armor Foundation, which aims to protect the health of veterans and provide resources to those struggling with PTSD and other issues.
While the ‘staches have become a staple in the Giants’ clubhouse each May, the movement is beginning to gain steam around the league this year, especially now that Slater is with the White Sox. Yastrzemski said several players from other teams -- including the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan, the Pirates’ Adam Frazier, the Reds’ Austin Wynns and the Royals’ Cole Ragans -- have expressed interest in participating and helping to support the cause this month.
“We actually kind of pivoted it a little more league-wide this year,” Yastrzemski said before the Giants’ 2-1 loss to the Twins on Saturday at Target Field. “It was more so reaching out to guys on other teams and seeing if they’d be interested in -- even if they’re growing mustaches or not -- like rocking shirts and talking about it. It’s been growing.
“It’s pretty cool. I think the most impactful feeling has been seeing the Giants’ huge involvement in it. They are so supportive of it.”
The message that Yastrzemski hopes to spread is featured on the front of the Mustache May T-shirts: “Care for your homies.” While mental health struggles have been destigmatized in recent years, Yastrzemski said he wants to continue to normalize checking in with others and giving them space to be vulnerable when they’re going through challenging times on and off the field.
“It was never a thing when I first got here, and then all of a sudden it became a large conversation,” Yastrzemski said. “I feel like it’s something that people aren’t afraid to talk about, to admit, to be vulnerable about. Especially around here, if somebody catches wind of something, it’s never a teasing point. It’s always like, ‘What can I do to help?’ That’s powerful, knowing that you have the whole group around you.
“I think one of the more prevalent ones was hearing [closer Ryan Walker] talk about how when he was struggling a little bit, he felt all of us around him. That’s what it’s about. It’s about the importance of knowing that you’re not alone, knowing that no one is glaring at you in a certain way because of the way that you feel or the way that you perform. It’s all about support and community and growth.”
We asked Yastrzemski to grade the Giants’ mustaches on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 is considered average. Here are his evaluations, beginning with himself.
Mike Yastrzemski: 60
“It’s above-average. But it’s got a lot of potential. There’s still fill-in for the rest of the month.”
LaMonte Wade Jr.: 70
“Easy 70. It’s full, and it’s still going to get better somehow.”
Logan Webb: 40
“The effort is great. If he gave it a little dye and it popped a little bit more, I think we could have something there.”
Christian Koss: 40
“We’ll give him a 40 as well. It’s there, and there’s a lot of effort. I think it’s going to get better.”
Matt Chapman: 40
“There is some definition, but I think he’s in the 40-range, too.”
Hayden Birdsong: 20
“Boy, that’s a 20. He needs some color in that. But he’s also, what, like 16 years old?”
Jordan Hicks: 70
“That’s a good one. He’s got a good mustache.”
Bonus
Justin Han (Jung Hoo Lee’s interpreter): 80
“He said it’s the longest it’s ever been in his entire life. It looks like he sprinkled some pepper on there, but the fact that he’s willing to go through that -- he gets an 80, one thousand percent.”