Larry Brown Sports

The Nationals dressed their rookies up as smurfs last year as part of their rookie hazing. This year they opted for a more patriotic theme — they dressed their rookies up as US Olympic gymnasts.

Pitcher Gio Gonzalez tweeted two pictures of the rooks dressed up as gymnasts. One was taken inside the team’s clubhouse following their 8-0 loss to the Marlins. The other was snapped as they were getting ready to board a train for the road trip to New York.

Gonzalez’s caption for the photo was actually pretty funny: “The 2012 Olympians that didn’t make the cut this year.”

Thank goodness they didn’t. Below is another pic of the rookies in their leotards:

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The Rockies are wrapping up a disappointing season and decided Sunday was the right time to haze their rookies. And why not? They had just set a franchise record with 25 hits in a 19-3 win over the hapless Astros.

The Rox went with the Star Wars theme, which seems to be popular in baseball circles this year. In case you were curious, Troy Renck says Tommy Field dressed up as Yoda, and that Edgmer Escalona was Chewbaca. Sadly for him, his mask was not movie quality. At least it was much better than getting the Lady Gaga treatment.

The Nationals got their rookies perhaps better than any baseball team has ever hazed its rookies. The D-Backs putting their rookies in speedos and swim outfits was pretty funny, and the Angels sticking Mike Trout in a Lady Gaga dress wasn’t bad, but this is tops. Just look at all the detail with the body paint! And can you really beat Stephen Strasburg as Papa Smurf? I think not.

That picture was actually shared by Nats catcher Jesus Flores on Twitter, and it was passed along by Eye on Baseball. Guarantee Flores never had to dress up like a smurf during his hazing. Very strong Nats, very strong.

It’s September, meaning it’s the time of year when MLB teams expand their rosters 40 players. Rookies are called up and subsequently hazed. This is Angels top prospect Mike Trout dressed up as Lady Gaga after Sunday’s loss to the Yankees:

Yup, Trout’s Lady Gaga outfit even came complete with a gratuitous nip slip. Thanks Mike! You sickos may have enjoyed seeing him in a Gaga outfit, but I still say Jered Weaver’s prank of Trout was even better.

Thanks to LA Angels Insider for the picture, and head over to their album to see plenty more pictures of the Angels rookies in funky costumes.

If August is the month for rookie hazing in the NFL, then September is the time for rookies to get it in baseball. First it was the Twins dressing up their rookies in cartoon and Sacha Baron Cohen costumes, and then it was Logan Morrison in a hideous outfit. While that’s nothing compared to getting awful looking haircuts, it’s probably better than walking around the Bay Area in speedos and swim caps, as the Diamondbacks rookies had to do. Thanks to AZ Snake Pit for the tip:

On second thought, it’s not too different from Bay to Breakers. They probably did blend in around the area.

Photo Credits: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

My favorite was a while back when the Dodgers took Chan Ho Park’s finest suit and turned it into a tank top and shorts on a road trip. As you could imagine, Chan Ho was none too pleased about that. Here’s Josh Barfield from last year, courtesy 100% Injury Rate:

Also head over there to check their awesome compilation of the best rookie hazing this year in baseball. Believe me, there are some beauties.