In 2023, Mike Yastrzemski completed his fifth season in a Giants uniform, logging a .775 OPS with 23 doubles and 15 home runs in 106 games. Yaz was worth 2.4 bWAR in 2023, third best of any position player on the Giants, defensively was worth +9 Defensive Runs Saved in the outfield, and posted career bests in average exit velocity (90.0 mph) and hard-hit % (44.0%), while posting the second-lowest chase rate (20.2%) of his career.
Yaz participated in the Mustache May trend, initially to catch the ¡°good luck¡± that a mustache brought one of his former teammates while enduring a slump of play and mental health struggles in 2021 as a result of the stress and strain of baseball. What started as a fun monthlong tradition for Yaz turned into an annual awareness initiative, as he realized this was an opportunity to acknowledge his silly appearance and not to take himself too seriously. By inspiring his teammates, fans and the broader baseball community to get involved, Yaz understood the unique opportunity, fun and camaraderie of growing mustaches presented to bring a greater awareness and deeper knowledge of mental wellness.
In 2022, with the help and support of his wife Paige and teammates, Mustache May became a formal awareness campaign, with a focus to give back to the community and bring attention to mental health, recognizing the challenges professional athletes face and showcasing resources available to players and fans alike.
With a personal connection to, and as a strong advocate for support of veterans, Yaz knew there was an increased need for mental health services for our military, veterans and their families. 100 percent of the proceeds from his Mustache May merchandise go to support the Heart and Armor Foundation, which aims to protect the health of veterans and connect civilians to the experience of military service, specifically with research and programs around mental wellness. Mustache May not only raises money, but also drives conversations about important issues, helping to reduce the stigma and encourage proactive approaches to challenges like mental health.
While Mustache May is the cornerstone of his philanthropic efforts, Yaz gets involved in the community in many other ways. As longtime supporters of the military, the Yastrzemskis routinely host veterans and their families at Oracle Park, building personal relationships with many during meet and greets and dynamic conversations around mental health. The Yastrzemskis also led an event for Giants families to assemble military care packages for service men and women returning home from deployment.
Continuing their message and work to uplift and inspire others, the Yastrzemskis are avid supporters of local nonprofit Family House, where they visit children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses regularly, playing baseball, signing autographs, taking pictures and engaging in tours of the facilities and residences. As steady supporters of Junior Giants and the Giants Community Fund, the Yastrzemskis provide inspiring messages and encouragement to young baseball and softball players throughout the Bay Area.
Yaz¡¯s Mustache May initiative and other community efforts are a testament to his dedication to philanthropy, community service and being a good teammate. Mustache May has become a model for how athletes can use their platforms for good, and Yaz encourages and inspires others to think creatively about how they can contribute to their communities. Although May is only one month out of the year, Yaz¡¯s efforts never end, as he continues to be a leader on and off the field, recognizing the struggles that many people (including professional baseball players) go through and constantly reminds everyone, ¡°it¡¯s important to check in and care for your homies!¡±