NEW YORK -- It was Hamilton Night at Yankee Stadium this past week, paying tribute to the long-running Broadway smash hit and cultural phenomenon. The team leaned all the way in. Trent Grisham batted leadoff, and when his image flashed across the scoreboard, his uniform was digitally swapped for the blue coats of the Continental Army. Wrong century, right sentiment: In this breakout campaign, Grisham is not throwing away his shot. “I think consistent at-bats help any player,” Grisham said. “I would put most of it to the mental work that I’ve put in.” The 28-year-old Grisham is having the most productive season of his big league career, already blasting a personal-best 26 home runs after slugging just nine all of last season. Widely thought of as a defense-first throw-in to the Juan Soto trade with the Padres two winters ago, Grisham has carved his own identity in New York -- he’s picked up the nickname “Big Sleep” in Yankees circles. He credits “diving into process, thinking well and being convicted in my thoughts” as a method of slowing the game down. But don’t snooze on this: Grisham has seized the regular playing time that wasn’t there during his first season in pinstripes. |
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“He’s been great, man. He’s been a spark plug, and really what we’ve needed all season,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “He doesn’t really chase. He’ll force you to throw in the strike zone before he swings at a ball out of the zone, most of the time. For me, that’s what you need out of a leadoff guy, especially when you’ve got some pop like he does.” 18 of Grisham’s 26 homers have either tied the game (5) or given the Yankees the lead (13), and his six leadoff homers are the fifth most in the Majors. “I think I feel pretty comfortable [leading off],” Grisham said. “I’ve done it a lot in my life. Being the first guy they send out is fun. We have a really good offense, and being the first guy we send up means a lot.” Since Aug. 9, Grisham has batted .284/.385/.552. This level of performance has been a long time coming for Grisham, once a first-round Draft pick of the Brewers back in 2015. A two-time Gold Glove Award winner (2020, ’22), Grisham’s offensive consistency has improved after three straight seasons hitting below the Mendoza line, including a .190/.290/.385 slash line in 76 games last year. |
“Everyone’s trajectory is not like this,” manager Aaron Boone said, tracing an imaginary line from low to high. “It’s a hard game. Hitting in the big leagues is hard. There’s countless examples of guys finding themselves, really figuring it out a little bit -- especially offensively -- as their career unfolds.” Boone did not explicitly make this connection, but it seems relevant considering recent events: His point about young players’ progress not being linear could also apply to Anthony Volpe’s turbulent season. Grisham is batting .248/.353/.471 with 67 runs, nine doubles, a triple, 26 homers and 51 RBIs (2.6 fWAR) -- great value, considering he re-signed with the Yankees for $5 million this past offseason. That performance sets up a potential payday this offseason. The Yankees may extend him a qualifying offer, and multi-year deals should be waiting as well. With Aaron Judge and Jasson Domínguez entrenched, Cody Bellinger possibly heading back to free agency and prospect Spencer Jones pushing upward, the outfield picture could shift. Grisham just hopes this season keeps him in the room where it happens. “Trent’s been unbelievable this year,” Carlos Rodón said. “He’s been remarkable.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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· Giancarlo Stanton is locked in at October levels. The slugger remained on a heater, homering and driving in all five runs during the Yankees’ victory on Tuesday. · Every Cam Schlittler outing offers a peek into the Yankees’ future -- and the rookie’s present looks pretty sharp, too. · Dax Kilby, the Yanks’ first-round pick in this year’s MLB Draft, is off and running as he makes a sharp first impression with Single-A Tampa. |
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How many home runs did Babe Ruth hit as a member of the Yankees? A. 652 B. 659 C. 695 D. 714 |
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THIS DATE IN YANKEES HISTORY |
Aug. 28, 1977: Ron Guidry celebrated his 27th birthday by firing his third shutout of the season, blanking the Rangers, 1-0. Guidry faced just 28 batters, striking out eight and permitting two hits. Graig Nettles roped a sixth-inning triple, then scored on a Reggie Jackson single for the game’s only run. |
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B. 659 Ruth famously hit 714 home runs during his big league career, and 659 came with the Yankees (1920-34). Ruth hit his first 49 with the Red Sox (1914-19) and his final six with the Braves (1935). |
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