PITTSBURGH — After hitting his first house run of the 2025 season on April 3, Trent Grisham famous that “getting consistent at-bats” has factored into his sizzling begin.
The 28-year-old barely performed for the Yankees in 2024 after becoming a member of the workforce within the Juan Soto commerce. A starter all through his profession, the Gold Glove heart fielder hit .190 over a career-low 179 at-bats because the Yankees dedicated to an offensively inept Alex Verdugo in left.
“That was a learning experience,” Grisham mentioned Saturday after homering twice within the Yankees’ 10-4 win over the Pirates at PNC Park. “I’d never done that before, but I knew what I was getting into coming into the season. So I was in a good place mentally and just tried to learn as much as I could.”
Grisham demonstrated related energy together with his restricted alternatives final yr, belting 9 homers in 76 video games. He mentioned that he realized to remain prepared always after his mindset underwent a “mental flip”, and he started going by his common beginning routine within the fifth inning as a participant coming off the bench.
Nonetheless, Grisham has been getting common begins to date this season. With Cody Bellinger sidelined by a stiff again, Saturday marked Grisham’s third in a row. He’s now hitting .471 with a 1.630 OPS, three homers and 7 RBI over seven complete video games.
“He kind of embodies what we try to do, and that’s swinging at good pitches and being patient, but also having an aggression in there,” mentioned Aaron Boone, who batted Grisham ninth on Saturday. “He does a good job of controlling the zone naturally. He can be a little passive. I think he’s been doing a really good job of being aggressive, and when he’s getting a pitch, he’s stinging it.”
Boone additionally praised Grisham’s high-level protection and added that he’s “excited” for a man who obtained minimal taking part in time final season.
Grisham’s first dinger of Saturday’s recreation got here off left-handed Pirates starter Bailey Falter within the third inning. A solo homer, the ball traveled over PNC’s excessive proper discipline wall and gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead after Austin Wells knocked an RBI single within the first body.
Grish goes yard 💪 pic.twitter.com/4FehwFMmxM
The Yankees squandered that lead within the fourth inning, because the Pirates put 4 runs on the board after doubles from Ke’Bryan Hayes and Enmanuel Valdez, an Endy Rodríguez groundout and two walks from Marcus Stroman.
Stroman’s day ended with the inning regardless of cruising by the primary three, however Grisham’s was simply getting began.
With the Yankees trailing 4-2, the left-handed swinger shot a ball to the other nook for a three-run homer within the fifth. As soon as once more, Falter faltered because the Yankees took a 5-4 lead.
“I think people forget that he’s an incredible everyday player, but you don’t see him in that light right now,” Stroman mentioned. “It’s almost impossible to really, truly be your best if you’re not consistently getting everyday at-bats or reps. Like what he’s doing now is incredible because it’s timing, it’s reps. You can ask any hitter: the more that they’re playing, usually, the better they feel.”
The fitting-hander went on to laud the soft-spoken Grisham’s clubhouse presence.
“He’s always chill, always calm,” Stroman mentioned. “Some people say they’re the same guy every day, but he truly is the same guy each and every day. He’s a humble, humble human being to be around.”
Trent Grisham pokes this one the other means for his second house run of the day! pic.twitter.com/LMmA3y5HgT
With Grisham homering twice, the Bombers’ 25 house runs are probably the most ever by a workforce’s first eight video games.
The Yankees have discovered different methods to attain, although. That development continued after Grisham’s final blast, as Anthony Volpe unloaded the bases when he smoked a double to deep heart just a few batters later. Paul Goldschmidt plated a ninth run with an RBI single within the eighth inning, whereas a ninth-inning sac fly from Wells gave the Yankees a fair 10.
“It just seems really tough on opposing guys when one through nine is gonna have a really good at-bat,” Grisham mentioned.
Boone agreed, calling his offense “relentless.”
The skipper’s bullpen additionally had a robust day regardless of Stroman creating an prolonged workday for the group, as Tim Hill, Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough held Pittsburgh scoreless by the top of the sport.
“They were excellent,” Boone mentioned.
With Saturday’s win behind them — there have been no rain delays regardless of issues about inclement climate — the Yankees can attempt for his or her second sweep of the season on Sunday.
Will Warren is slated to pitch the collection finale. The rookie right-hander battled in his season debut, tallying two earned runs, one hit, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts over 5 innings towards the Diamondbacks on April 1.
Andrew Heaney will begin for the Pirates. A former Yankee, the southpaw held the Marlins to at least one run over 5 innings in his first begin of the season on March 30.
Initially Printed: April 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM EDT
