One-time All-Star Sergio Romo, a 14-year MLB veteran best known for his nine-year stint with the San Francisco Giants (with whom he won three World Series) recently returned to the Bay Area as a member of the Oakland Athletics. That must be an odd sight for Giants fans, but what’s even stranger is how Romo looked when he checked into Tuesday’s game against the Diamondbacks.
The 38-year-old right-hander took the mound at Chase Field looking like an entirely new man, toeing the rubber without even the slightest hint of his trademark beard. Fans were predictably taken back by this development, barely recognizing the journeyman reliever in his clean-shaven state.
It’s unclear what prompted Romo to finally scrap his iconic beard—a trait as much a part of his identity as his disappearing slider—after maintaining it for so long. Unlike the Yankees (who made Rougned Odor shave upon his arrival in the Big Apple last week), the A’s don’t have any blanket policies restricting players from growing facial hair. With 40 fast approaching, Romo may have been graying and wanted to get out ahead of it, or perhaps the upkeep had gotten to be too much of a burden. Or maybe Romo is coming at it from a philosophical lens, changing his look to symbolize a new beginning.
Of course, gossipy sports writers like myself tend to assign a lot of meaning to things that usually don’t require it. For all we know, Romo’s explanation could be as mundane as, “it itched.” Whatever the reason, Romo in his new, beardless incarnation, is going to take some getting used to.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram