Yankees Welcome Back Red-Hot Trent Grisham Ahead of Blue Jays Series
As the New York Yankees prepare to open a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, they’re getting a major boost to their roster—outfielder Trent Grisham has returned from the paternity list and picked up right where he left off.
Grisham, 28, is on an absolute tear at the plate and making a serious case to become a permanent fixture in the Yankees’ starting lineup. Over 20 games, he’s slashing an impressive .320/.393/.700 with six home runs, 13 RBIs, a solid 19.6% strikeout rate, and an 8.9% walk rate. His 215 wRC+ indicates he’s performing 115% better than the league-average hitter—this is far more than just a hot streak.
Trent Grisham Advanced metrics back it up too. Grisham ranks in the 94th percentile in both expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) and expected slugging (xSLG), while posting a career-best 51.3% hard-hit rate and a launch angle of 21.8°, the highest of his career. His refined open stance is helping him consistently drive the ball to right field with serious pop.
But Grisham’s value doesn’t stop with his bat. In the field, he’s been rock solid—boasting a perfect fielding percentage and one defensive run saved in 131 innings, reminding everyone why he’s a former Gold Glove winner.
Manager Aaron Boone has taken notice, slotting Grisham into center field and rotating Aaron Judge into the DH role to keep Grisham’s bat in the lineup. With his elite production on both sides of the ball, the Yankees may need to seriously re-evaluate their outfield rotation to make room for a player who’s proving he can’t be benched.
Leave a Reply