PITTSBURGH ¨C Trent Grisham entered this year understanding his role, which he describes as ¡°being ready every day,¡± whether he starts or comes off the bench. The Yankees outfielder is benefiting from seeing his name in the lineup more frequently.
Grisham continued his hot start on Saturday, homering twice and driving in four runs in leading the Bombers to a 10-4 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park.
¡°[This lineup] just seems really tough on opposing guys, when you have one through nine that can hang a really good at-bat on you,¡± Grisham said.
Anthony Volpe also contributed a three-run double as the Bombers notched their sixth win in eight games. The Yankees have hit 25 home runs, surpassing the 2000 Cardinals (23) for the most in Major League history through a club¡¯s first eight games.
¡°It¡¯s been relentless; they¡¯ve really started taking tough at-bats,¡± Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ¡°For the most part, we¡¯re scoring a lot and a lot of guys are swinging the bat well. You¡¯re going to have nights when you get shut down a little bit, but I feel like there¡¯s been a real consistency to their approach.¡±
It was the third career multihomer game for Grisham, who has reached base in six of seven games. The 28-year-old batted just .190 (34-for-179) in part-time duty last year, but he has sizzled so far in the new campaign, with eight hits in 17 at-bats (.471).
¡°It was a learning experience [last year]; I¡¯d never done that before,¡± Grisham said. ¡°I knew what I was getting into coming into the season, so I was in a good place mentally about it. I just tried to learn as much as I could. ¡
¡°I treated every day like I was starting, [but] just starting later. I¡¯d do all my prep that I do starting in the fifth inning, as opposed to an hour before a game.¡±
Grisham didn¡¯t have to adjust his timetable on Saturday, playing center field in place of Cody Bellinger, who sat for a second consecutive game with lower back soreness. Grisham cracked a solo home run in the third inning and a three-run shot in the fifth.
¡°Trent is an everyday player; I think people forget that,¡± said right-hander Marcus Stroman. ¡°It¡¯s almost impossible to really, truly be your best if you¡¯re not consistently getting everyday at-bats or reps.
¡°What he¡¯s doing right now is incredible. It¡¯s timing, it¡¯s reps. You can ask any hitter; the more they¡¯re playing, usually the better you feel.¡±
Boone and general manager Brian Cashman have said they expect Grisham to play more than he did last season, when he appeared in 76 games (52 starts). So far, it looks like he will.
¡°He kind of embodies what we try to do, and that¡¯s swinging at good pitches and being patient, but also having aggression in there,¡± Boone said. ¡°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.¡±
Both of Grisham¡¯s homers came off Pittsburgh starter Bailey Falter, who was thumped for seven runs and seven hits in four-plus innings. The Yanks broke the game open with six runs in the fifth, an outburst capped by Volpe¡¯s bases-clearing knock.
That frame served as a response after Stroman stumbled in the fourth. Stroman had faced one batter over the minimum through three innings, but issued three walks that led to four runs in the fourth.
Enmanuel Valdez¡¯s two-run double was the big knock off Stroman, who also permitted a Ke¡¯Bryan Hayes RBI double and an RBI groundout by Endy Rodr¨ªguez as Pittsburgh sent eight batters to the plate.
¡°I felt pretty good overall; I just can¡¯t put three guys on base,¡± Stroman said.
A two-time Gold Glove Award winner during his previous tenure with the Padres, Grisham faced a challenging 2024 season, adjusting to a part-time role after being acquired by the Yankees in the Juan Soto trade.
Soto is playing with the Mets now, but Grisham¡¯s second year in pinstripes still sees him searching for opportunities. The Yanks entered the season featuring an outfield of Jasson Dom¨ªnguez, Bellinger and Aaron Judge, with Grisham firmly in a reserve role.
Described by Stroman as ¡°always chill, always calm,¡± Grisham said he better understands what it takes to be ready when his chances arrive.
¡°I¡¯ve been in a good spot mentally,¡± Grisham said. ¡°I¡¯m just staying in the present, and keeping going.¡±