Nobody anticipated Trent Grisham to hit the way in which he did in 2025, as he by no means had earlier than.
With a 95 wRC+ over his first six huge league seasons and a .191 common, a .651 OPS and an 87 wRC+ from 2022-2024, Grisham shocked with a profession yr on the plate in 2025. Hardly an element for the Yankees the season earlier than after coming over from the Padres within the Juan Soto commerce, he set career-highs with 34 residence runs, 74 RBI, an .811 OPS and a 129 wRC+ because the group’s main middle fielder and go-to leadoff man towards righties this previous season.
“This is a former first-round pick, talented guy. Everyone’s trajectory is not like this,” Aaron Boone stated in August, gesturing in a straight line. “It’s a hard game. Hitting in the big leagues is hard. You see countless examples of guys finding themselves, really figuring it out a little bit, especially offensively, as their career unfolds. He’s had success. He’s hit for some power, but certainly, this is the best offensive season by a lot that he’s had.”
With Grisham lately accepting the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying supply to stick with the Yankees, the query now’s whether or not he can stay a drive on the plate. At that value, the pinstripers actually hope so.
“We do believe in the player,” Brian Cashman stated final week after stating that he thought there was a 50-50 probability Grisham’s resolution might go both method. “We believe his adjustments are real. His swing is made for Yankee Stadium. He’s clearly someone that’s not afraid to play here because he’s performed here.”
Cashman added that Grisham was the third-best outfielder in a skinny market behind Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker, although some potential suitors would have possible waited on the latter two gamers earlier than pivoting to the previous.
Whereas Grisham’s observe report would recommend a replication of his 2025 breakout is unlikely, there may be purpose to imagine he could be a higher hitter than he was earlier than this previous season.
For one, he has attributed his latest success to a greater psychological method, looking for the assistance of Dr. Bob Rotella, a sports activities psychologist identified for working with golfers, after “thinking like crap for a few years and playing like crap.”
A number of high quality of contact metrics additionally recommend that Grisham’s 2025 marketing campaign wasn’t a one-off, as he set private bests with a 14.2 Barrel%, a 91.1-mph common exit velocity, a .353 wOBA and a .366 xwOBA. That final quantity ranked within the ninetieth percentile.
In the meantime, Grisham’s 17.3 Chase% and 14.1 BB% had been within the 99th percentile.
One might argue that the left-handed swinger was a bit too affected person, as he additionally pulled balls within the air at a career-high 23.5% clip. If Grisham continues to make exhausting contact whereas pulling balls within the air, he’ll preserve working into residence runs.
Grisham additionally did higher than he ever had earlier than over a full season when it got here to weak contact, strong contact and getting underneath the ball, and his bat velocity barely improved from the earlier two seasons.
“All the underlying information that would lead you to believe real or not real, it points to the real arrow,” Cashman stated. “All the information backs up that the changes he made are real and that it should continue.”
With higher metrics and psychological abilities, Grisham will now return to a group that he’s loved enjoying for, decided to show that his 2025 season wasn’t a fluke. If he can do this, he’ll hit free company once more subsequent winter at age 30 and ineligible for the market-depressing qualifying supply, which comes with the detriment of forfeiting draft choose compensation when a brand new group indicators such a participant.
That second-chance at long-term safety and a multi-year payday ought to function added motivation after Grisham settled on a one-year deal this time round, although Cashman didn’t rule out discussing an extended pact with the veteran.
“I’m not saying that’s something we will pursue,” the overall supervisor stated, “but I wouldn’t be afraid to pursue it either.”
