Bryce Harper Shaves Beard Before Game Vs. Yankees, Fans And Media Push Conspiracy Theories

Bryce Harper stunned baseball fans everywhere on Monday after he appeared at the Washington Nationals‘ 4-2 home loss to the New York Yankees with a clean-shaven look.

National’s Bryce Harper Shaves Beard

The 25-year-old outfielder’s famous beard was nowhere to be seen on Monday, and fans and reporters alike quickly started speculating the reasons for Harper’s new look.

There were mixed reactions to the look, but one joke that many people seemed to make was that Harper — who is set to become a free agent at the end of this season — could sign with the Yankees, because the New York team has a very strict rule/dress code that prohibits facial hair.

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Thus, the common quip among fans was that Harper is itching to end up with the Bombers next season.

Harper’s new look could also be due to other reasons, however. Scorching temperatures have hit Washington, D.C. recently, and the right fielder has hit a bit of a slump. He is hitting .221 this season and has a 1.63 average in June.

Either way, fans can’t help but obsess over the disappearance of Harper’s beard as if some sort of mythical creature had just joined MLB.

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The Nationals (38-32) are second in the NL East and have lost four straight games, the previous three being a series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Washington is 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves (42-29) in their division.

Harper, a five-time All-Star and the 2015 NL MVP, has been with the Nationals since he joined MLB in 2012.