Marcus Stroman has a slew of tattoos, everything from the Toronto skyline to self-motivating sayings such as: “Believe in yourself.” And one of his 50-plus tattoos is of Rihanna.
Although he’d never met the singer and entrepreneur, Stroman said he’s been a “huge fan for a long time. I’ve always thought she was someone who went about life in her own way and had her own style and grace. And I’ve always looked up to people like that.”
And now, they’re going to be working together since Stroman is the ambassador for the debut men’s loungewear campaign for Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty’s brand.
Stroman has been a highly visible figure in Major League Baseball since taking the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014. Over the course of the next decade, he has played for the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, won a Gold Glove Award and appeared in the All-Star Game twice.
In an interview from the Yankees training camp in Florida last week, Stroman said when the Savage team approached him with the offer, it was a no-brainer for him to accept. Although he admitted that he’s very picky about what he wears, “I’d been a fan of the brand from outside,” he said.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s very comfortable and versatile loungewear that can work for going out, chilling at the house, out on the boat. It’s slightly oversize, and the fabrics are amazing. It really fits into my style.”
He said that comfort is paramount to him, but not just in his clothing. “You also have to feel comfortable in your own skin,” he said. “I never leave the house with something fashionable on that doesn’t bring a level of comfort.”
Although Stroman is a fan of fashion, he admits that not everyone in professional baseball feels the same and it’s unlikely MLB will give the NBA a run for its money anytime soon.
“MLB could definitely be more fashionable,” he said. “I don’t think MLB puts the same emphasis on fashion as the NBA does. We play every day and we take a 10-minute ride in a bus and then take off our clothes and put on our uniforms. There’s no runway, no cameras, so you’ve got to be really dedicated and there are not a lot of guys who take pride in what they’re putting on.”
There are exceptions, of course, he said, pointing to “one of my homies, Francisco Lindor. He does a really good job with fashion and takes it seriously. It’s just part of his life.”
Marcus Stroman in Savage x Fenty.
Courtesy of Savage x Fenty
It’s part of Stroman’s life, too. In 2022, the athlete launched Shugo, a footwear and apparel brand that offers an onfield cleat, upscale basics such as jackets, sweatpants, hoodies and T-shirts and some team uniforms.
Beyond that, he said he has his own wine business and is preparing to launch a “creative studio” for high-end luxury clothing, home décor” and other products.
He also his own charity. Called the Height Doesn’t Measure Heart Foundation (yes, he has that tattoo, too), it works with young people from inner cities and underserved areas to rise about their circumstances and pursue their dreams.
Stroman, who is just over 5-feet-7-inches tall, is one of the shortest people to pitch in the major leagues and Height Doesn’t Measure Heart has been his longtime motto. Through the course of his career, Stroman has ignored criticism that he was too small to pitch professionally.
“I’m very grounded,” he said.
That attitude is also helping him navigate his current situation with the Yankees. The team has a full roster of starting pitchers and their attempt to trade him in the off-season was unsuccessful. He arrived to spring training two days later than the other pitchers and catchers, but ready to prepare for the season — although not as a reliever.
“It’s the media creating this hysteria,” he said. “Nothing in the clubhouse has changed with my teammates or coaches. We’re just at a point where the team has a lot of starters and they’re trying to figure out what the best move is to put the best team together. And you know, I’m a starter at heart. That’s not something I’m ever gonna come off of. I’m very prideful because of the work that I put in to be a starter. So we’ll see what happens. I love being a Yankee, but I’m also very calm and would love a new opportunity elsewhere as well.”
He’ll also be happy being the newest face for Savage x Fenty menswear.
Although the brand has offered menswear since 2020, this is the first dedicated loungewear collection, said Vanessa Wallace, chief marketing officer of Savage x Fenty.
“We’ve had men’s as a universal line, and then we’ve also been in the space around men’s sleep, underwear and intimates,” she explained. “But this men’s collection is our first foray in that loungewear-meets-activewear space.”
She continued: “It’s our way to extend our Savage DNA and that bold confidence and self-expression. So with our men’s styles, we’ve been able to incorporate versatile fashion pieces that go and move with you. That was really important for Rihanna.”
The collection will include hoodies, joggers, crewneck sweatshirts and shorts within the fleece offering; Ts with ribbed cuffs in solids and graphics under the Jersey category; a quilted woven jacket with a relaxed fit, front flap pockets and snap-button closures, as well as a range of socks and hats. Prices will range from $16.95 to $146 and will be offered on the company’s website and at other select retailers globally.
The campaign, which is titled “Made to Make Moves,” is targeted to the “multihypenate man,” she said, and Stroman fits that bill. “He represents what the brand represents,” Wallace said. “Marcus is way more than an athlete. He’s extremely talented. He’s an entrepreneur. He exemplifies the modern style of someone who needs comfortable, fashionable pieces that move with him throughout his day, whether he’s going from a game to practice to any of his other activities. So we felt like he was an ideal fit.”
In addition to Stroman, the campaign will also feature men in a variety of other careers including fashion, art and design, Wallace said.
While Savage x Fenty is best known for its womenswear and beauty products — earlier this month, the brand named GloRilla to be the ambassador of the Savage x Fenty, Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin and Fenty Hair — Wallace said the menswear has been among the company’s bestselling categories. Among the most popular items are the satin boxers, Wallace said, as well as Shadow Fit boxer briefs.
Going forward, she said men’s is viewed as a growth opportunity for the company. “With Rihanna as our creative visionary, the one thing that she’s always challenging the team to do is push those fashion boundaries.” So whether it’s “new silhouettes, innovative materials, fresh takes on new classics, we always want to make sure that we carve out this space for future collections that continue to blend that lounge-meets-performance with streetwear elements.”
Savage x Fenty was founded as a monthly subscription business in 2018. Rihanna, executive chairman, co-owns the company with investors including LVMH.
