For Hope Week, Gary takes cut as barber

After his baseball career ends, Gary Sanchez might have a future as a barber.

In a charity event at the Harlem YMCA, the Yankees' catcher moved from behind the plate to behind the barber's chair, giving a local man a close trim. Teammates Miguel Andújar, Aroldis Chapman, Domingo Germán, Gleyber Torres and Ronald Torreyes joined Sanchez and hairdresser Mark Bustos on Friday at the Harlem YMCA to help give haircuts to the homeless community and YMCA residents as part of the Yankees' HOPE (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) Week.

While the players helped the hairdressers by brushing off fallen hair, Sanchez grabbed the trimmers himself and shaved down Levander Johnson's hair as pitcher Domingo German cleared the shaved hair.

It wasn't the first time behind the barber's chair for Sanchez. “When I was little I used to cut my brother's hair and my friends,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “But that's not really my best skill.”

Johnson, 77, of Rockaway, Queens, appreciated Sanchez's handiwork and said he was never nervous while the slugging catcher went to work on his locks. “He did great,” Johnson said. “He did really great.”

The haircuts and lunch marked the final day of HOPE Week, in which the organization recognizes individuals or groups who are persevering or serving their community. Friday's event recognized Bustos, a Manhattan-based hairdresser who works with high-priced clients like singer Norah Jones and fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Since 2012, Bustos has reserved his Sundays to give free haircuts to the homeless.

Bustos began to give back after he visited family in the Philippines and was overwhelmed by the poverty. The life-long hairdresser decided to give back the only way he knew how, with haircuts. “The first boy who sat on my chair, he had no shoes on,” Bustos said. “But the look that he had on his face when I was done with the haircut was priceless.”

Bustos continued giving haircuts in the U.S. and has visited 20 countries spreading his work. He also founded his own foundation, Be Awesome to Somebody.

Latoya Jackson, associate executive director at the Harlem YMCA, works closely with the homeless and has seen first-hand the impact something small like a haircut can provide. “It provides a new beginning,” she said. “Many of these guys haven't had a haircut in years so it provides a fresh cut to give them confidence and that's the little that we can do for them. The little confidence takes them a long way.”

Bustos and the haircut recipients didn't know the Yankees would be joining them Friday. A New Jersey native and life-long Yankee fan, Bustos was especially thrilled to learn he would be throwing out the first pitch of Friday night's game against the Rays.

“The amazing work the Yankees do on the field is matched by the amazing work they do off it,” Bustos said.