LOS ANGELES -- For years, the long, dark hair has been a trademark of Tony Gonsolin's appearance, worn loose around his shoulders or tied back at the nape of his neck.
So it came as somewhat of a shock when, toward the end of the Dodgers' Cactus League slate, Gonsolin walked into the clubhouse at Camelback Ranch with a shaved head. The new 'do was no surprise to his teammates, though, as many of whom had been there for the fateful haircut -- and some were even responsible for it.
"I think, eventually, it was gonna go anyway," Gonsolin said. "So why not do it [and] have fun?"
Miguel Rojas was the one who had wanted to cut Gonsolin's hair, and he got the first go at it, shaving off a long strip down the middle. The sides required a bit more care, so Rojas handed the clippers to Anthony Banda -- who, incidentally, has plenty of experience as a barber.
Banda's task with Gonsolin's cut -- navigating the previously unseen moles on his scalp and evening out the work Rojas had done -- is a big part of what he enjoys about cutting hair. He compared it to satisfying videos that show an unruly lawn getting mowed to perfection or a dirty rug being painstakingly restored to cleanliness.
There's something calming, almost therapeutic, about the process.
"It's like my ASMR," Banda said. "That's the reason why I fell in love with cutting hair. Same reason why people fall in love with drawing or knitting or whatever it may be."
That turned out to be a lucky break for Gonsolin, who had taken somewhat of a leap of faith by putting the clippers into his teammates' hands.
"I thought Miggy was going to slice my head, honestly. He did OK," Gonsolin said. "Banda did a really good job. It's like he's done it before."
Banda's experience cutting hair dates back to 2009, when it was, as he put it, a thing to do. He remembers paying his friends $20 to cut his hair when it dawned on him that he could be the one making that money if he learned how to do it himself.
That instruction came from YouTube videos, as Banda is self-taught -- although he did have a stint working at a barbershop in Sinton, Texas, after graduating high school. He practiced on his four brothers, sitting them down and giving them haircuts. He let them cut his hair in return, "just for payback."
The real test was when Banda got to cut his father's hair for the first time, because he figured that if he made a mistake, there wouldn't be a second opportunity. Despite some nerves, he was able to get the job done.
Now, Banda has a barbershop setup in his home, and a wide array of clippers and blades. He cuts his and his son's hair, and extends the offer to family and friends. He doesn't take any outside customers, but he's not ruling it out as a potential post-playing career.
"I want to get really good at it," Banda said. "I'm always looking to see what I can do after all of this."
Banda doesn't take his position as a trusted reliever on one of baseball's best teams for granted. The 31-year-old lefty has made big league appearances for eight teams across parts of nine seasons, and it wasn't until he landed with the Dodgers last year that he had a steady role with a club.
The journey has involved even more stops in the Minor Leagues, which is where Banda was really able to put his barber skills to work.
"When we're in the big leagues, it's different, because every team has a barber," Banda said. "But from Triple-A down, there's always somebody that knows how to cut hair. ¡ Usually, it's me."
Even Banda has the team barber cut his hair during the season, which is part of what made Gonsolin's haircut an unusual experience. But it became another opportunity for the Dodgers to bond, building the chemistry that they hope can fuel them as they strive to defend their title.
In any case, Banda has another satisfied customer on his hands in Gonsolin.
"From probably the crown of his head back was very good, very long, luscious," Banda said. "But he was always having to wear a hat to cover the thinning part of his head, is what he told me. ¡ It fits him. He looks way good, just more comfortable. He loved it right away."