The baseball world lost a legend over the offseason when legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker died at the age of 90.

Uecker called games for the Milwaukee Brewers since 1971 and appeared in the 1989 movie "Major League" and the film’s two sequels.

His last game was the Brewers' heartbreaking postseason loss to the Mets back in October, when Pete Alonso became the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later of a winner-take-all game while his team was trailing.

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Christian Yelich, who won an MVP with the team in 2018, was emotional after the loss, mostly speaking about Uecker.

"For me, it was talking to Ueck," he said at the time. "That’s kind of what — tough one. All the other stuff is what it is. It’s a tough way for your season to end, but talking to ‘Uecky’ one-on-one was tough."

Not often do broadcasters have close relationships with players, but this was an exception. And in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Yelich made it known that Uecker's presence is definitely missed.

"I had gotten to know Bob extremely well over the last eight years. He and I were really good friends. He had amazing stories and lived in incredible life," Yelich said. "Just getting to listen and talk about the game and be able to truly be friends with him, you know, I think I got to see him in a unique light that a lot of people necessarily didn't, who didn't really know him like that. He was around almost every home game for us. He'd come in the clubhouse and just hang out and just shoot the s--- with the guys in the lunchroom or really just wherever.

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"He was friends with some of the best players in the game. He lived this incredible life, whether it was Johnny Carson or astronauts calling him from the space station on his birthday, being in the ‘Major League’ movies, he just had stories for days, and just getting to listen to those daily was something that was really, really cool. Obviously, everybody with the Brewers and baseball and really all around the world, everybody misses Bob, and he lived an incredible lifestyle."

"The thing about Bob," Yelich added, "when you first meet him, you feel like you know him forever. That’s how he makes everybody feel. He just had such an outgoing personality and made everybody feel like they're his friend. I think it was a gift that he had as far as being able to connect to people. He kind of disarms the situation quick. He's obviously a legend being Bob Uecker and all the things that he'd done in his life up to that point. I remember the first time meeting him, you know, he kind of felt like you'd known him for a long time already, and then obviously our relationship kind of grew as the years went by and got to know each other a little bit better. Spent a lot of time hanging."

Uecker was born and raised in Milwaukee and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954. He played baseball while he was at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Belvoir. Uecker joined the Milwaukee Braves’ organization in 1956 and was in the minors until he got called up in 1962. His career ended five years later.

Uecker was a broadcaster in Atlanta before doing broadcasts for the Brewers. He called games for 54 seasons before his death. He also served as a broadcaster for ABC and NBC during World Series and League Championship games. He called the Brewers’ 1982 World Series loss to the Cardinals for a local Milwaukee station.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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The New York Yankees thought they had finally found their closer when they acquired two-time National League Reliever of the Year Devin Williams. On Sunday, they demoted him.

Coming into this season, Williams owned a 1.83 ERA in his first six MLB seasons, all with the Milwaukee Brewers. That figure was the second-best in the majors, behind only Emmanuel Clase (who, too, is struggling), and his 14.3 K/9 in that span was the fourth-best.

But with the Yankees, he had allowed 10 earned runs in his first eight innings of work, and after blowing a four-run lead and another save last week, New York announced they were taking him out of the closer's role.

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It's unfamiliar territory for Williams in more ways than one, as the talk in the tri-state area is that Williams is another victim of the bigger market.

However, his former Brewers teammate in Christian Yelich disagrees.

"Devin will be fine. He’s one of the best closers in baseball. He's done it for a long time," Yelich told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

"Anything in a small sample size doesn’t really tell the true story. You have a tough outing or two, everything kind of gets skewed. It’s tough being a reliever when you only have a few innings early in the season and a couple of them don’t go your way," he added. "But he'll be fine. He knows what he's getting into in New York. He's pitched in a lot of big games. So I'm not worried about him. He'll be just fine."

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Williams was notably not thrilled when he had to shave his beard, which became another stepping stone to owner Hal Steinbrenner ditching the longstanding policy implemented by his father in the 1970s.

Yelich agrees that the policy-drop was a smart decision, but "we all got a good laugh about it with the Brewers" when Williams had to shave.

Perhaps that has added to the pressure, but for Williams, while he was not the sole catalyst for the policy change, it's safe to assume he helped push it into the end zone.

Williams has also reportedly complained about the media presence in the Yankees' clubhouse, which surely is a lot different from his days in Milwaukee. 

He appeared to have it figured out this month, when he had consecutive three-up, three-down outings. But since then, it's been tough to watch.

For now, Williams is not a high-leverage option, which is poor timing for him because he's in his final season before free agency.

Luke Weaver, who took on the closer's role last year after Clay Holmes lost the job, has closed out two games in the last week and has a 0.00 ERA in his 13 appearances this season.

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's rule changes may not be loved by baseball purists, but the proof is in the pudding.

As the length of games has significantly shrunk in recent years, Major League Baseball saw increased attendance in back-to-back years for the first time since the early 2010s in the last two seasons.

A Dodgers-Yankees World Series was going to bring in plenty of viewers anyway, but nonetheless, it's all a good sign for the sport.

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Two of the biggest names in the game know that they, too, have a job to do off the field as well.

"I think it's important to grow the sport," Milwaukee Brewers star and 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "I think it's important to attract as many new viewers as possible, obviously keep your existing audience and have it be a good product for everybody to consume. I think if you can have an impact like that as a player, you should do it."

So, in order to do that, Yelich, Dodgers star pitcher Dustin May, and Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson teamed up with DirecTV, whose "Nothing On Your Roof" campaign with the MLB stars is telling potential providers that dishes are no longer necessary to enjoy ball games.

Yelich, May and Swanson star in the commercial for the campaign where there is nothing on their roofs – in this case, their heads. Each wore bald caps, which is quite the look for the long-haired May.

"I like my hair, and I have a lot of it, and then they wanted to do the Nothing On Your Roof, and I thought it was really cool twist on things," the 27-year-old May, who began growing it out as a junior in high school, said. "I was excited to be a part of the commercial to kind of boost that they don't need anything on your roof to be able to broadcast baseball."

Don't expect May's real hair to be gone any time soon, though.

"I definitely think my wife would be kind of irritated if I cut them off," he said.

"It was a cool concept that I thought was really unique, and an opportunity to have some fun with a couple of other guys around the league," added Yelich. "DirecTV did a great job with the set and the concept, and I thought everything turned out awesome. People are able to watch baseball, access Major League Baseball games without having to have satellite. I think it was a unique way for DirecTV to get that message across, putting us in bald caps and the Nothing On Your Roof campaign. I didn't really know how I’d look bald and stuff, but I thought that was a cool part because it looked so realistic. Once they finished with all the hair and makeup stuff, it was a lot of fun."

"So being able to partner up with DirecTV with this campaign, show baseball fans that they can consume Brewers games, Major League Baseball games without satellites, it was an easy decision to do the commercial."

As for continuing to grow the game, "We're here to put out a good image," added May. "So people want to come back and want to watch."

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The Cincinnati Reds' 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday was their third consecutive 1-0 loss, becoming the first MLB team in 65 years to achieve such a feat. 

No MLB team has had three straight 1–0 defeats since the Philadelphia Phillies did so in May 1960. 

Only six teams in league history have ever had three straight 1–0 defeats, and no team has ever had four such defeats in a row – at least for now. 

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Four of the six times it has occurred were over a century ago. The other teams to lose 1-0 in three consecutive games were the Brooklyn Superbas in 1908, the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators in 1909, and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1917.

In the Reds' loss on Thursday, Brewers starting pitcher Nestor Cortes threw six innings and yielded just one hit while he struck out six. 

The Reds' starting pitcher, Nick Lodolo, was just as good as he pitched 6.2 shutout innings and gave up four hits while striking out four batters. The Reds had just two hits in the loss.

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"It’s part of the game, you know?" Lodolo said. "I’ll be honest with you. Obviously, I want us to score, but I’m not really thinking about it. I’ve got to do my job at the end of the day, regardless. We’ll turn it around. I guarantee that."

The 1-0 defeat steak began on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers when Nathan Eovaldi threw a complete-game shutout. Jack Leiter and four Rangers’ relievers continued to keep the Reds’ offense off the score sheet on Wednesday.

The irony is, prior to the last three games of paltry offense, the Reds’ bats erupted on Monday as they won 14-3 over the Rangers. Since that offensive explosion, however, the Reds' bats have been dormant. 

Cincinnati has a combined nine hits, three walks and 27 strikeouts during the skid.

"Nobody’s happy with what’s happened the last three games," Reds’ manager Terry Francona said postgame on Thursday. "We’ll figure It out together. I feel strongly about that."

The Reds (2-5) will look to plate a run and get a win when they play the Brewers (3-4) in the second game of a four-game series on Friday, at 8:10 p.m. ET. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Since being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, CC Sabathia hasn't had much time to reflect on the honor. 

Sabathia was quickly whisked to Cooperstown the day after the announcement along with the others elected, and he has been all over since. 

He made an appearance in Tokyo for the Los Angeles Dodgers-Chicago Cubs series at the Tokyo Dome. He visited the New York Yankees during spring training.

And he's seen his son, Carsten Sabathia III, play for the Houston Cougars. 

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It's been a whirlwind since that night, when Sabathia, surrounded by family and friends, achieved the goal he'd been dreaming of since picking up a baseball. He's started writing his Hall of Fame speech, something that can be nerve-wrecking for men who have lived through intense pressure during their playing careers. 

Sabathia revealed to Fox News Digital what he's hoping to get across with his words.

"I feel like I want the theme of it to be … I was raised around a lot of strong Black women. And I feel like, without them, I would not be able to be in this position," Sabathia said. "I kind of want that to be the theme of my speech. I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but that’s kinda what I’ve been thinking about since I got elected. 

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"Just all the positive Black women that have been in my life that got me to this point, whether it’s my grandmother, my mom, her friends, my aunts, my wife. So, I think I want that to be the theme of my speech."

Sabathia has been open about the women in his life, beginning with his grandmother, whose backyard had a grapefruit tree that provided the perfect practice objects even if they weren’t baseballs. He would pitch them at a folding chair to hone his skills. 

His mother Margie sacrificed for him with his father in and out of the picture to make sure he had everything he needed to succeed. In 2019, Margie said she used to put on catcher’s gear to be the other half of the battery for her son. 

And his wife, Amber, his high school sweetheart, was there every step of the way as they built a family and charitable foundation off the field while he was mowing down hitters on it. 

Not only are strong Black women a crucial element of Sabathia's story. Black culture played a big role in the star he became. Baseball fans know all about Sabathia's crooked hat, baggy jersey and the stylish Jordans he used to wear for every start. 

Given he grew up in an era when hip-hop exploded and eventually played where that genre was born, in New York, Sabathia embodied the very person he dreamed of seeing on a baseball diamond growing up in Vallejo, California. 

"I grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s. I grew up with the birth of it. So, I was kinda raised with that genre of music," he explained. 

"Even the way I wore my hat; the way I wore my uniforms; wearing the Jordans; the big, baggy uniform and all those different things. I just wanted to speak to the kid in me. If I saw myself out on the mound when I was 9 years old, I would [say], ‘I want to be like that.’ 

"So, that’s what it was for me when I saw Dave Stewart, when I saw Ricky Henderson, when I saw Dave Parker. The swag that they played with, Ricky popping his collar and all these different things. That’s who I wanted to be. Having a chance to watch Andruw Jones as a teenager. He’s two years older than me, but he was 18 playing in the World Series. I was 16, and I remember looking at my grandmother and being like, ‘I want to be a teenager in the big leagues.’

"All these different inspirations from Black culture, or hip-hop culture, and it just became who I am and who I was. It feels good, and it’s awesome to be that representation and be that guy and have all those connections in that culture and world. It’s a lot of fun."

Sabathia has some time to perfect his speech before he shares it with the world July 27 in Cooperstown. 

While he'll be sure to mention the catchers, coaches and teammates during his time in MLB, he wants to spotlight those who helped him get to that point and had his back every step of the way. 

FIGHTING ALLERGIES WITH XYZAL

During his illustrious career, allergies were always something Sabathia had to worry about. The spring can be difficult with allergies, and Sabathia used to get a shot from his team's medical staff to cope with them. 

Now in retirement, the luxury of a team of doctors and staff is gone, and Sabathia needed to find the right medication to battle those symptoms, especially with golf being his latest sports passion. 

Xyzal, who he is now partnered with, was the perfect remedy. 

"My allergies have been horrible my whole life. When I was a kid, I’d go to school with rolls of toilet paper," he said, laughing. "My allergies were super, super bad. … So … I was just trying to find different stuff. I came across Xyzal and figured out you can take it at night."

Now, Sabathia and his 14-year-old son Carter have made it part of their nightly routine to ensure they can get through baseball season without those pesky allergy symptoms. 

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The New York Yankees beat the Milwaukee Brewers 20-9 Saturday and hit a franchise-record nine home runs in the rout. 

During the game, the YES broadcast noted that some Yankees players were using torpedo bats.

So, what are they?

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The torpedo bats have the barrel of the bat in a different location. Instead of being at the end of the bat, the barrel is closer to the handle, which gives the bat a bowling pin shape. Some players make contact with the ball more on the label instead of the traditional barrel of the bat. The torpedo bats move the barrel to the label, so when they make contact they barrel up the baseball more. 

The uniquely shaped bats dominated conversation among players and fans this weekend after the Yankees’ offensive eruption. 

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"I think it’s terrible," Brewers relief ace Trevor Megill told the New York Post. "We’ll see what the data says. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I feel like it’s something used in slo-pitch softball. It’s genius: Put the mass all in one spot. It might be bush [league]. It might not be. But it’s the Yankees, so they’ll let it slide."

Kevin Smith, who spent time with the Yankees last season, took to X to give credit to Aaron Leanhardt for the innovative bat. 

"Yes, the Yankees have a literal genius MIT Physicist, Lenny (who is the man), on payroll. He invented the ‘torpedo’ barrel. It brings more wood – and mass – to where you most often make contact as a hitter. The idea is to increase the number of ‘barrels’ and decrease misses," Smith wrote. 

Leanhardt, 48, has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in physics from MIT and was a physics professor at Michigan from 2007-2014. 

Leanhardt joined the Yankees in 2018 after coaching in the Atlantic League and Montana community college in 2017. 

"It’s just about making the bat as heavy and as fat as possible in the area where you’re trying to do damage on the baseball," Leanhardt said about the torpedo bat via The Athletic.

"There were definitely some major league players that swung it in the big leagues in 2023," Leanhardt told reporters Monday. "As well as some minor league players who swung it in some real baseball games in 2023, and it just kind of built up throughout 2024 into what it is today."

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Leanhardt is now a member of the Miami Marlins as a field coordinator after he left the Yankees after six years as a major league analyst. While he is no longer with the team, four of the Yankees’ regular starters use the torpedo bat. 

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, center fielder Cody Bellinger, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and shortstop Anthony Volpe all use the torpedo bat. Giancarlo Stanton does not.

Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez told reporters that Stanton was using a torpedo bat last season when he mashed seven home runs in 14 postseason games during the Yankees' run to the World Series. 

However, the Yankees are not the only team that uses the bats. The MLB social media account posted a brief explainer to X about the torpedo bat and highlighted four players from four teams who use them.

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The four players pictured that use the bat are New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz, Anthony Volpe and Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers. Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm have used them. 

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz decided to try the torpedo bat in the Reds’ game on Monday against the Texas Rangers after watching the Yankees' offensive onslaught.

De La Cruz went 4-5 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs in the Reds’ 14-3 win over the Rangers. 

"I just wanted to know if it felt good," De La Cruz said via The Athletic, "and it definitely does."

The bats are legal.

MLB Rule 3.02 states, "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood." 

The rule also says "experimental" bats can’t be used "until the manufacturer has secured approval from Major League Baseball of his design and methods of manufacture."

Leanhardt said he would "guarantee" he is on a first-name basis with MLB officials who oversee bat regulation. 

While teams and players are sure to want to get their hands on the torpedo bat, some players are content with what they've been using. 

When Yankees captain and two-time AL MVP winner Aaron Judge was asked why he hadn’t tried the new torpedo bat, he replied, "What I’ve done the past couple of seasons speaks for itself."

Reds manager Terry Francona said maybe it wasn’t the bats that led to the Yankees' record nine home runs.

"I don’t have a big opinion. I think if you go back and look at where some of these pitches were (thrown against the Yankees), it might not be the bat," Francona told The Athletic. 

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Several New York Yankees used redesigned bats during the team's season-opening series against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

The new design places the barrel closer to the hands instead of the more standard placement toward the end of the bat. Brewers closer Trevor Megill took issue with the use of the "torpedo" bats and shared his frustrations after New York scored 20 runs on Saturday en route to a blowout win over Milwaukee.

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The Yankees hit a franchise-record nine home runs during the 20-9 win. Megill railed against the bats, arguing they were "terrible," but also admitting they were a "genius" idea.

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"I think it’s terrible,’" the Brewers relief pitcher told The New York Post. "We’ll see what the data says. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I feel like it’s something used in slo-pitch softball. It’s genius: Put the mass all in one spot. It might be bush [league]. It might not be. But it’s the Yankees, so they’ll let it slide."

The shape of the bat is within the scope of league rules, making it permissible. 

According to MLB Rule 3.02, "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood." Furthermore, the "experimental" bats can't be used "until the manufacturer has secured approval from Major League Baseball of his design and methods of manufacture."

Other players in the Brewers' clubhouse countered Megill's position, with first baseman Rhys Hoskins suggesting the design left him intrigued.

"I didn’t see it until after the game,’’ Hoskins said. "They figured out a way to make it work. Logically, it makes a lot of sense, but I’m not a physicist. But how could I not want to look into it more?"

"I’ve already talked to some bat companies since the game to see if I could get my model made like that, just to see what it’s like," Hoskins added. "We’ll see. Just because it worked for somebody doesn’t mean it’ll work for everybody. Hitting is such a feel thing. But I’d try it."

Nestor Cortes, who played for the Yankees from 2021-24 and gave up eight earned runs on Saturday, shrugged off the new bats.

"That's nothing new to me," Cortes said. "I know a few guys did it last year. I don't think it matters to me. I get the science and technology behind it. I don't know; it doesn't really bother me."

The Yankees cruised to a 12-3 victory on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Brewers.

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Several New York Yankees used redesigned bats during the team's season-opening series against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

The new design places the barrel closer to the hands instead of the more standard placement toward the end of the bat. Brewers closer Trevor Megill took issue with the use of the "torpedo" bats and shared his frustrations after New York scored 20 runs on Saturday en route to a blowout win over Milwaukee.

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The Yankees hit a franchise-record nine home runs during the 20-9 win. Megill railed against the bats, arguing they were "terrible," but also admitting they were a "genius" idea.

BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR 2025 MLB SEASON: COULD BOTH NEW YORK TEAMS MISS THE PLAYOFFS?

"I think it’s terrible,’" the Brewers relief pitcher told The New York Post. "We’ll see what the data says. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I feel like it’s something used in slo-pitch softball. It’s genius: Put the mass all in one spot. It might be bush [league]. It might not be. But it’s the Yankees, so they’ll let it slide."

The shape of the bat is within the scope of league rules, making it permissible. 

According to MLB Rule 3.02, "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood." Furthermore, the "experimental" bats can't be used "until the manufacturer has secured approval from Major League Baseball of his design and methods of manufacture."

Other players in the Brewers' clubhouse countered Megill's position, with first baseman Rhys Hoskins suggesting the design left him intrigued.

"I didn’t see it until after the game,’’ Hoskins said. "They figured out a way to make it work. Logically, it makes a lot of sense, but I’m not a physicist. But how could I not want to look into it more?"

"I’ve already talked to some bat companies since the game to see if I could get my model made like that, just to see what it’s like," Hoskins added. "We’ll see. Just because it worked for somebody doesn’t mean it’ll work for everybody. Hitting is such a feel thing. But I’d try it."

Nestor Cortes, who played for the Yankees from 2021-24 and gave up eight earned runs on Saturday, shrugged off the new bats.

"That's nothing new to me," Cortes said. "I know a few guys did it last year. I don't think it matters to me. I get the science and technology behind it. I don't know; it doesn't really bother me."

The Yankees cruised to a 12-3 victory on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Brewers.

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Aaron Judge clubbed three of the New York Yankees' nine home runs in their 20-9 demolition of the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday at Yankee Stadium. 

The nine home runs are a Yankees franchise record.

The first of Judge’s home runs came in the first inning, when the Yankees led off the bottom of the first with three home runs on three consecutive pitches. 

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The Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt led the home run barrage when he deposited Brewers starting pitcher Nestor Cortes' first pitch into the left-center field bullpen. Center fielder Cody Bellinger followed Goldschmidt’s home run with his own towering blast into the right-center field bleachers. 

With the Yankees up 2-0 and the fans ecstatic with the back-to-back home runs, Judge kept them on their feet with a 468-foot blast to left field. 

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The three consecutive home runs on three consecutive pitches marked the first time in Yankees’ history that the team led off a game with three straight home runs. It was the first time that any team had hit a home run on three straight pitches since 2000, according to MLB Stats. 

But the Yankees weren’t done. Catcher Austin Wells hit an opposite-field home run just over the left-field wall to make it 4-0 in the first inning. It was the first time in team history the Yankees hit four home runs in the first inning of a game.

Shortstop Anthony Volpe joined the fun in the second inning with a three-run home run to make it 7-3. With Volpe's second-inning home run, it was the first time in Yankees history the team hit five home runs in the first two innings of a game. 

Judge’s second home run was a grand slam in the third inning to make it 12-3. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed Judge’s slam with a solo home run of his own to make it 13-3 and bring the Yankees' home run total to six in three innings. 

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In the fourth inning, Judge hit a two-run home run to make it 16-4. It was the third time in Judge’s career he had hit three home runs in a game. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Judge nearly hit his fourth home run. He laced a line drive that went off the top of the wall in right field, and he had to settle for an RBI double instead, which made it 18-6. 

Oswald Peraza hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the team’s ninth home run on the day, to make it 20-6.

Judge had one more chance to hit his MLB record-tying fourth home run in a game in the eighth inning off of Jake Bauers. Bauers, an outfielder, went to the mound because the Brewers were trying to preserve their bullpen. 

Judge hit a line drive to the left fielder off Bauers, falling just short of more history. Judge's final line was 4-6, with three home runs, a double and a career-high eight RBIs.

Cortes took the loss for the Brewers after strugging over two innings of work. He gave up eight earned runs on six hits and five walks against his former team. 

Max Fried made his Yankees debut, pitched 4⅔ innings and gave up six runs, two of which were earned. 

With the dominant win, the Yankees start the season 2-0 and will look to complete the sweep over the Brewers Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET.

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New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon sported a beard during the team’s 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the team’s season opener on Thursday. 

The new look drew mixed reactions online after the organization made drastic changes to one of its long-standing policies last month. Rodon, 32, had a beard with the San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox before he signed with the Yankees and shaved it off. 

When the Yankees scrapped their facial-hair policy in spring training, players were allowed to grow "well-groomed" beards. With the rule gone, Rodon, along with other Yankees, had beards on opening day. 

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However, fans had differing opinions on seeing Yankees’ players with beards for the first time in a long time. 

"That beard looks great on Carlos Rodon," one user posted to X.

Other fans were not so kind to the Yankees’ starting pitcher. "Carlos Rodon looks terrible – beard protruding – in his pinstripes before the Yankee Stadium crowd. Very disrespectful," a fan posted to X.

"Not to be an old-head because I didn’t think I was gonna care that much, but seeing Carlos Rodon on the mound in pinstripes with a beard is making me mad," another fan posted to social media. 

Rodon earned the win, as he pitched 5.1 innings and gave up just one run on four hits and two walks while he struck out seven Brewers hitters. 

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Some fans tied Rodon’s strong performance with his beard. 

"Very excited for a full year of bearded Carlos Rodon with this gnarly slider and new changeup," one user posted to X.

"Carlos Rodon may be who benefits the most from the Yankees' new beard policy," another fan posted on social media. 

In the two seasons prior before Rodon signed with the Yankees, he made the All-Star team both years and pitched to a 2.63 over 310.2 innings with the Giants and White Sox. His first two years with the Yankees, without the beard, were not as productive for Rodon. His ERA in his Yankees career is 4.67, and he has not been the ace pitcher the Yankees hoped they signed. 

However, with a beard in 2025, Rodon is off to a strong start. Rodon was not the only player to have a beard, as left fielder Jasson Dominguez, reliever Mark Leiter Jr. and closer Devin Williams all had beards as well. 

The Yankees’ next game is against the Brewers on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET, with Max Fried making his team debut after he signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason. 

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New York Yankees fans appeared to have a tough day at the ballpark, and it started before first pitch and continued into the ninth inning when the team tried to close out a win over the Milwaukee Brewers during Thursday’s opening day game.

Betsy Wolfe, a Broadway actress and singer, was tapped to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the game began. 

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But Wolfe’s rendition appeared to raise eyebrows for the wrong reasons as fans were quick to point out that the California native was reading the lyrics off of her phone.

The "Juliet" star faced backlash on social media for having her phone out, with at least one fan imploring the Yankees on X to "do better." But others were impressed with her voice in general.

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Yankees fans’ hearts were racing early when catcher Austin Wells hit a solo home run to get on the board. He became the first catcher in MLB history to hit a lead-off home run on opening day.

Still, New York had a tough time closing the door on the Brewers.

New Yankees closer Devin Williams allowed a Joey Ortiz single and an Isaac Collins double to start the top of the ninth inning. He then allowed one run to score but was able to strike out Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich to end the game.

New York won, 4-2.

The two teams play again on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET.

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The goal for every MLB team is to win the World Series, right?

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Mark Attanasio pondered the question about what his job is as an owner.

"Is my job to win a World Series or is my job to provide a summer of entertainment and passion and a way for families to come together?" Attanasio said, via USA Today on Tuesday.

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"My goal, from an ownership standpoint is to always compete. … I don’t like to talk about us as a small market. We’ve certainly not played like a small market. Since 2005, we have the fourth-most wins in the National League."

While the team has been successful, the investment from ownership has not been strong. 

The Brewers have a projected payroll of $117 million as of Wednesday, which ranks 22nd in MLB behind the Colorado Rockies.

Attanasio said that it would be easier for the Brewers to spend towards the top of the league if the revenue streams were more equal. 

"We don’t have the financial ability to bring in superstars. We try to hold on to whatever we can."

The Brewers were proactive in signing rookie Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million contract last spring. The deal offers Chourio long-term security if he doesn’t pan out.

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For the Brewers, if Chourio turns into the star they think he will become, they have a top-flight player under long-term control at a price they can afford. 

Those are the types of deals the Brewers have to make to try and retain talent at a cheaper cost. 

Attanasio pointed to the other leagues as an example for what they have done with their media contracts as a way to level the spending across the league. 

"You see what the NFL has done with their media contract. You see what the NBA has done. It's all sitting right there. If we can do something like that, the pie is bigger for everybody, for owners, for players, for everybody," Attanasio said. 

"We just have to figure out how to do it, whatever the labor system is."

Despite the Brewers not investing more into the team, due to savvy moves, they are in position to compete in the NL Central, as no team is a clear favorite. 

Brewers’ general manager Matt Arnold said despite financial limitations, there are no excuses. 

"We recognize the challenges in the industry around the economics of the sport, but we're not going to make excuses about any of that. We have to do things a little bit differently here, and we embrace that."

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Former Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun was evacuated from his home in California for the majority of the last six weeks due to the Los Angeles wildfires. 

Braun, 41, talked about his appreciation for firefighters as they continue to try and keep people and buildings safe.

"Firefighters and first responders are truly heroes," Braun told Fox News Digital on Saturday. "I don’t think that we get an opportunity to thank them often enough. But those guys have put their lives on the line. They’ve worked night and day. I know a number of firefighters who literally didn’t sleep for 72 hours.

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"These guys are out there doing everything in their power to save as many people and structures as possible. Incredibly grateful for everything that they’ve done for the community, and today is an opportunity to try to say thank you to as many of them as possible."

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Braun, along with World Series champion Mike Moustakas, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Brewers star Christian Yelich and Mike Attanasio from the Brewers' ownership created California Strong to help communities affected by the disaster.

California Strong is a program of the YMCA dedicated to providing support to all Californians after disasters.

Yelich spoke about the California community continuing to support each other in times of need.

"The community seems to step up every time there’s people in need. I remember the Woolsey Fire was about seven years ago now, which seems to have flown by, but it’s a long recovery process. You know, it’s not something that takes a day, a week, even a year," Yelich told Fox News Digital.

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"It’s a multiyear process, and just to help people get back on their feet here at the beginning, hopefully be able to stay with them throughout the process and get back to normal whenever that may be."

Moustakas talked about how California Strong originated from Braun, Yelich, Goff and Attanasio just checking in with each other during tough times.

"It started out with us checking in on each other and then quickly transformed into us trying to use our platforms to help those in need. And that’s one of the greatest things about what we were able to do in baseball was use the platform in a way for good," Moustakas told Fox News Digital.

"We were very fortunate enough to have this YMCA partner with us, and it just kind of took off from there. And we’re here today supporting a ton of families with a great community. We’re very excited to help these people out."

Braun talked about how long and arduous the rebuilding process will be for people and how California Strong wants to help those people. 

"We live in this community. We grew up in this community. We can relate to the people and what they’re going through and dealing with. Similar to Mike (Moustaktas), I have three young children, and so I always view these situations through the lens of other parents. It’s difficult. It’s traumatizing. It is a long and daunting process for a lot of people to think about where to even begin to rebuild their lives. And, so, for us, the goal of California Strong was to support people after natural disasters and tragedies," Braun said.

"That’s what we’ve tried to do over the last seven years. That’s what today is all about. And the goal is to be able to support people both in the near term, immediately today and then longer term as they go through what ends up being a very long and challenging process to rebuild their lives."

California Strong is working with Proactive Sports to help get Californians back on their feet. 

"Proactive Sports has been partnered with California Strong since the inception," Proactive Sports owner Emily Capretta told Fox News Digital. "We hosted an event for those impacted by the Woolsey Fire and the Borderline shooting, unfortunately, that we experienced in our community in 2018. 

"And a really smart, strong group of women we mobilized to do a community thanksgiving, and that kind of started the beginning of California Strong,

"This particular event, the night those that were being displaced and losing their homes, I texted that original group of women that they wanted to do this again with me. And then I also texted Ryan Braun, and I said, ‘It’s time to mobilize. We need to be the first action point for those impacted."

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Bob Uecker, a legendary baseball broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers and former player, has died, the organization announced on Thursday. He was 90.

Uecker called games for the Brewers since 1971 and appeared in the 1989 movie "Major League" and the film’s two sequels.

"Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends," the organization said in a statement.

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"Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.

"There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years."

Uecker’s family said in a statement that the broadcaster had battled a private battle with small-cell lung cancer since 2023.

"He brought joy to countless listeners through his wit, charisma, and love for baseball, Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, creating a legacy that will forever be cherished," Uecker’s family said. "While his contributions to the game are noteworthy, it is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts.

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"We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time as we grieve and celebrate the man we were so lucky to call ours."

Uecker was born and raised in Milwaukee and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954. He played baseball while he was at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Belvoir. Uecker joined the Milwaukee Braves’ organization in 1956 and was in the minors until he got called up in 1962.

He played 33 games in his rookie season and hit .250 with two doubles and a home run. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves before his professional baseball career ended in 1967. 

He was on the Cardinals’ 1964 World Series-winning team and got himself a ring.

Uecker was a broadcaster in Atlanta before doing broadcasts for the Brewers. He called games for 54 seasons before his death. He also served as a broadcaster for ABC and NBC during World Series and League Championship games. He called the Brewers’ 1982 World Series loss to the Cardinals for a local Milwaukee station.

Health issues ultimately forced him to cut back on games in 2014. He famously signed his first contract with the Brewers’ organization in 2021 in order to be covered for health insurance, according to MLB.com. Uecker was receiving health benefits under the Screen Actors Guild until the organization discontinued health coverage in 2020. Before all of that, he was working under a series of handshake agreements.

"It’s amazing how you take everything for granted," he told MLB.com of his return to the Brewers’ spring training facility in 2021. "Being down there on the field, shooting the bull. Then when you can’t do it, it’s bad. You really lose that."

Uecker’s popularity soared over the course of his broadcast career. He made dozens of appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. He hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1984.

Dubbed "Mr. Baseball," he won the Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year five times and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.

He also made appearances for WWE at WrestleMania III and WrestleMania IV. In one segment, Andre the Giant choked Uecker.

Uecker shared four children with his first wife. Two are still alive. 

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The New York Yankees are going big game hunting after missing out on Juan Soto.

The Yankees acquired all-star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, the teams announced Friday.

The Brewers are receiving starting pitcher Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin in exchange for Williams. 

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Williams, 30, is a two-time All-Star and two-time Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year. 

Last season, in 22 games, Williams was 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA with 14 saves in 21⅔ innings after missing the first four months of the season with a stress fracture in his back.

Williams has a 1.83 ERA in 235⅔ career innings with 68 career saves. Williams is nicknamed "The Airbender" because of a wipeout changeup that strikes out over 14 hitters per nine innings. 

Williams will become the Yankees' new closer, and Luke Weaver will move back into a setup role. 

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Cortes will immediately join the Brewers' starting rotation. Last season, Cortes was solid with a 3.77 ERA over 174.1 innings with a 9-10 record.

Cortes sustained a flexor strain at the end of the regular season and appeared out of the bullpen during the World Series in a limited role. 

The Yankees parted with Cortes due to a wealth of starting pitching the team had after signing Max Fried to the most lucrative contract given to a left-handed starting pitcher in MLB history. 

Durbin is a prospect who can play all over the diamond for the Brewers — second base, shortstop, third base and center field. 

The 24-year-old hit .269 with 110 stolen bases in four minor league seasons. Durbin struck out just 111 times in 1,216 minor league plate appearances.

The Yankees don’t appear to be done making moves yet and reportedly have interest in trading for outfielders Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger to replace Soto. 

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Former MLB catcher Jonathan Lucroy recently revealed he received hate mail after sharing his conservative views on social media. 

Making an appearance on "OutKick the Morning," Lucroy told Charly Arnolt there were also some supportive messages that flooded his inbox after he posted political and cultural opinions he had around Election Day.

He also revealed he refused to kneel for the national anthem despite an MLB team asking him to do so.

"My inbox was inundated with positive supportive messages from fans and people that aren’t even baseball fans, people that follow politics and have seen my posts and all that. [They’re] saying, ‘Hey man, we got your back. There’s more of us than them,’ which is true."

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As for his haters, Lucroy doubled down, saying words have little effect on him, especially when it comes to the values he stands for. 

"I mean, the minority is going to squeak the loudest, and they are going to scream. They are going to complain. They are going to throw temper tantrums. They’re going to argue. They are going to say ‘F you’ and all this other stuff," he said.

"Look, whenever I played, I had some death threats. I don’t know who it was, probably people that lost money on betting games or something that I played in. I’ve been booed in front of thousands of people on a baseball field. This stuff doesn’t bother me. Words have a very, very, very, very low effect on me. This is not something that I am going to be afraid of someone cussing at me or someone being mean to me. That’s what they do. They get offended by words. Us? We shouldn’t be offended by words. We should go and take action on things."

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In a previous appearance on "OutKick the Morning" Lucroy said he "gave them the finger" in reference to the MLB team he wouldn’t name that asked him to kneel for the national anthem during a time of social unrest in 2020. 

When he revealed "hate mail" he was receiving, Lucroy said, "God forbid a pro athlete stand up for what they believe."

"That’s part of the problem," he added. "Some people are too sensitive, emotional and weak to hear the opinion of people that reached the athletic pinnacle of the craft or any other top level. See [Elon Musk] and how much hate from the other side he’s getting."

Lucroy added his belief that most MLB players have conservative views, which the league wants them to keep to themselves.

"I am not politically correct," he said. "When I say that 90-plus percent of American-born MLB players are conservative, you can take that to the bank. We just don’t speak up as much because we are told to be neutral. I will not remain neutral anymore.

"I’m stubborn and hardheaded. I also know what it took for me to play 10 years in MLB, as well as witnessing the character attributes of greatness as defined by the best players I ever worked with. I don’t care what you think or say. I care about my children, family, God and country. Deal with it."

Lucroy also talked about the vaccine mandate in MLB, saying one team told him "if we didn’t get the vaccine, we couldn’t see our family for three months." Though, he did say it was a CDC mandate that was forced on MLB. 

Lucroy, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, spent time with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies during the 2020 season. 

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