SAN DIEGO -- It was 100 degrees during batting practice when the Giants played at Dodger Stadium early last month, and so steamy inside the visiting clubhouse that the staff had to place two massive fans in the middle of the small room. John Brebbia's beard was dripping with sweat as he walked in after playing catch one day. He admitted that he had some facial hair regrets.
"It's not comfortable," he said of the beard, laughing.
Just about every player on the Giants roster has some sort of beard, including the manager. Mustache May was once again a thing, and rookie Sean Hjelle kept his throughout the season.
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But when it comes to facial hair, nobody can match Brebbia, who has the Giants' bushiest beard since the days of Brian Wilson. It would be an entertaining look on its own, but it's made particularly hilarious by the fact that Brebbia comes into every season clean shaven, so his scoreboard picture every appearance -- and there have been a ton of them -- doesn't seem to match the pitcher on the mound.
"I hardly recognize myself sometimes," Brebbia said.
The beard has gotten just a few trims this season to keep the upper lip manageable, allowing Brebbia to eat more comfortably. It has shown up every year since 2015, and for a very good reason.
Brebbia was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 30th round in 2011 but was out of affiliated ball by 2014. He played that season for the independent Sioux Falls Canaries and stopped shaving halfway through the season. When he returned to the minors, he started shaving just before the start of the year and then would let the beard roam free the rest of the season. These days, it's a daily reminder of where he's been.
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"Independent baseball was the first time I had fun playing again since I had been drafted," he said. "It wasn't political, it was purely a bunch of people that loved the game, that wanted to play and wanted to get back to affiliated ball. I just started doing it there and when I got signed out of indy ball I was like, I'm going to keep this going."
Brebbia paused and put his hand up to his hairy cheek, smiling as he lowered his voice, as if to tell a secret.
"It's a nice reminder of having fun, because, you know, that's kind of the point," he said. "The money is really cool, but it's also great to love your job and enjoy doing it."
It has not always been easy in the years since to remain positive. Brebbia had a 3.14 ERA in his first three seasons in the big leagues but needed Tommy John surgery in 2020. The Giants signed him that offseason, knowing they wouldn't get a full year out of Brebbia. He returned from the procedure quickly, but allowed 13 runs in 18 relief appearances last season.
The Giants stuck with him, bringing him back for 2021. Brebbia was thrilled.
"Even if you're doing well as a reliever, you may or may not have a job (for the next year). You have to be an elite-level reliever to have any kind of comfort," he said. "To not have done well at all, it was like, 'Alright, hopefully I'll play again next year. Hopefully somebody wants me.' Fortunately, the Giants did, and I was really happy to come back because I felt like if I was going to be my best, it was going to be with this staff guiding the way."
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With more time away from the surgery, Brebbia's fastball ticked up 1.5 mph this season. His slider found slightly more spin, and this spring, he noticed he had his old command of both pitches. Brebbia said he had no adjustability in 2021, but this year his arm has responded more often to what his brain wants it to throw, and it has responded more often, period.
It took longer than he hoped for Brebbia to recover after outings last year, but he has been an iron man for the Giants this season. When he makes his 11th start on Wednesday, he will reach 76 appearances, guaranteeing that he leads the National League. He'll give the Giants a third straight season with the NL leader in games pitched after Tyler Rogers did it the previous two years.
The offseason, just one day away, is often an uncomfortable time for an arbitration-eligible reliever, but Brebbia should return home feeling secure in what he has done this year. The Giants bullpen was unexpectedly bad this year, but Brebbia has been one of their bright spots and should be standing on the line next opening day -- with his cheeks and chin showing.
It will be time for a new beard, because the 2022 one won't last much longer. Brebbia said he'll take the trimmer out a few days after the season ends.
"Ironically enough, I go home to Atlanta in the offseason right when it's starting to get cold and I lose it all," he said. "Then my chin gets all chilly."