Yankees announcer Michael Kay admonishes long-haired bat boy for ignoring team’s clean-cut policy
A long-haired bat boy on Monday angered New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay in Cleveland for violating the club’s 47-year-old personal grooming policy.
“Strange to see a Yankee uniform, someone wearing that uniform with that kind of hair,” Kay mused in the seventh inning of Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Guardians. “If the players can’t, I don’t know if the bat boy can.”
The problem for Kay was that the bat boy’s long blonde locks and patchy facial hair didn’t match the Yankees’ clean-cut aesthetic—a standard established by late owner George Steinbrenner when he purchased the team in 1976.
“There are rules,” Kay said. ‘Rules are rules. He disobeys two of them. I think there is facial hair and the hair is clearly under the collar.”
But while the bat boy didn’t follow Yankee rules, he wasn’t actually required to because he’s not a franchise employee. Rather, since teams don’t travel with bat boys, he actually works for the Guardians as their visiting clubhouse valet. And in any case, he agreed to a compromise for Tuesday’s game.
Guards visiting clubhouse attendant Nathan Rosenhaus tucked his hair into his helmet
A long-haired bat boy angered New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay
“They made him tuck his hair under his helmet,” Kay said Tuesday as the Yankees won Cleveland 11-2. “His name is Nate, he’s in a band, he’s a drummer – Open Doors is the name of the band – and he thought all the social media fuss yesterday was kind of humorous.”
His full name is Nathan Rosenhaus, according to his LinkedIn page, and the Grand Canyon University graduate has been working part-time for the club for nearly two years.
“I started my career as a Runner for the Cleveland Guardians in the summer of 2021,” his LinkedIn bio reads. “Perform various tasks throughout the day, including preparing suites, arranging seats in the ballpark, and posting signage along the ballpark fences. Since then I started at GCU majoring in Sports and Entertainment Management.’
He also discussed his side projects.
Rosenhaus (left) pictured with other members of The Open Doors. He is reportedly a drummer
But while Rosenhaus was criticized by Yankees fans, several offered him support on Twitter
Rosenhaus is a graduate of Grand Canyon University and a part-time clubhouse clerk
Johnny Damon pictured with his long hair in Boston (left) and later New York (right)
“Apart from those roles, I have helped shoot a simulated season for the Guardians social media accounts during the lockdown of the covid period, and have written music and performed live shows with my band The Open Doors,” Rosenhaus wrote. .
Rosenhaus also drew criticism from Yankees fans over his red spikes, which clashed with the Yankees’ traditional colors, but again, the young man works for the red-clad Guardians.
But while Rosenhaus was criticized by Yankees fans on Monday, several offered him support on Twitter, where he is known as Nate Rose.
“Can we blow up bat boy Nate’s band ‘The Open Doors’?” one fan asked. “It’s the least we can do to tease him yesterday.”
Rosenhaus kindly responded, ‘Hey guys, I really appreciate the support, it means a lot to me and the whole band! To make things easier for all of you, here’s a link tree with all the streaming sites, plus a ticket link to our nearest show.’
The Yankees’ grooming policy is a notorious aspect of playing in the Bronx.
Most teams do not restrict players’ facial hair or hairstyles, and in the 1970s, then-Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley offered players bonuses to grow their mustaches to attract younger fans.
But Steinbrenner was always different.
Steinbrenner, a notoriously conservative, required players like Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi to cut off their long hair and shave regularly when they signed in the Bronx.
The club has continued Steinbrenner’s grooming policy since his death in 2010.
Jason Giambi got a little makeover when he left Oakland for the Bronx