Out of all the surprises for the New York Yankees so far this season, none have been more unexpected than the emergence of Trent Grisham. The former Gold Glove-winning center fielder has always been an elite defender, but his game at the plate has always been a weakness. Not this season, though; Grisham has taken the reigns as arguably one of the best hitters in MLB, let alone on the Yankees. As the fourth outfielder coming into the season, Grisham is forcing his team’s hand in terms of who gets the starting nod in center every day.
Trent Grisham Making Case to Remain Starting Outfielder
Lefty Pop
Before getting into Grisham’s insane stats thus far, it’s important to note that he has always been able to hit the long ball. Through his first five full seasons from 2020-2024, he hit 64 home runs; not a remarkable number, but when you take into account the minimal amount of games he played in that time, he averages almost 20 per 162 games. This season, he has been on an absolute tear, besting his homer total from ’24 (nine in 76 games) in just 37 games, smacking 10 so far. Additionally, he’s hitting .276 with a .978 OPS (which would rank fifth in MLB if he was qualified), driving in 20 runs, and walking 13 times to just 20 strikeouts.
TRENT GRISHAM PINCH HIT GAME TYING HOMER pic.twitter.com/UunJdRT7Sh
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Grisham has provided a much-needed spark in the leadoff spot for the Yankees, in addition to providing top-tier defense in center. However, he is still not getting starts every day, with Jasson Dominguez and Cody Bellinger also in the Yankees’ outfield mix. It’s an understandably difficult decision for manager Aaron Boone, who has to choose between three starting caliber outfielders to play just two spots (the third spot is sort of already locked up by a guy named Judge). With Ben Rice taking up most starts at DH, that isn’t a frequently available option either, creating a difficult dilemma for Boone.
Looming Injuries
There is, of course, the possibility that one of the Yankees’ four outfielders sustains an injury. But there’s also the issue of Giancarlo Stanton, who isn’t very close to a return but is likely to come back to the lineup sometime during the season. As Boone often says when questioned about future problems, it’ll likely work itself out by the time they get there. But for now, there’s still the question of who will get the most playing time.
It’s such a difficult decision because of the circumstances around Bellinger and Dominguez. The former is a proven veteran who has struggled to begin the year, but has started to get it going as of late in addition to his great defense. Dominguez has also been heating up, and when paired with the fact that he’s been one of the most hyped Yankee prospects in recent memory, he also deserves (and needs) significant playing time. So, who does that leave as the odd man out? Grisham.
Hot Streaks Solve Themselves
It’s certainly a great problem to have; four outfielders who play at a high-caliber level, with each deserving to start every game. New York’s production from the infield has been decent, but the outfield is where they shine offensively. The hope is that Grisham can continue his otherworldly production, but conversely, that will make it much harder for the Yankees to re-sign him once he hits free agency after this season (if they plan on keeping him). Either way, it’s been a career year so far for Trent Grisham, and the Yanks’ lineup is enjoying every second of it.
Photo Credit: © Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
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