Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham with his .209 batting average has him ranked 5th lowest average in baseball currently, per Katie Sharp. It’s also been reported by Sharp that Grisham has a negative six outs above average (OAA) with a negative eight defensive runs saved (DRS), which puts him at second worst for center fielders in baseball, stated Sharp last night in a tweet on X.
Grisham has been a very streaky hitter this year. Despite having 18 home runs, he finds himself in another slump. Grisham has just six hits in his last 53 plate appearances (.113 BA) with 18 strikeouts. The defensive concerns have been alarming, but with Grisham reverting back into another prolonged slump, it begs a question as to how the Yankees monitor the center field situation moving forward?
Rookie Spencer Jones Playing Well With His Opportunities
Rookie outfielder Spencer Jones hit a solo home run last night to right center field off Waybert Urena, the lone run in an embarrassing 10-1 Yankees loss to the Los Angeles Angels, who are on pace to lose close to a hundred games this season. Jones has produced in his latest call up stint.
In his last 15 games he’s hitting for a .298 batting average with three home runs, seven RBI’s, and a .532 slugging percentage. Jones has a great arm in the outfield, in which he ranks in the 82nd percentile at 89.4 mph, per Baseball Savant. Jones outfield defense hasn’t been great either, he’s at a -2 outs above average in right field, per Baseball Savant, but one has to ask, can the younger Jones be a more serviceable center fielder than Grisham?
Yankees Have Tough Questions To Answer
These are serious questions the Yankees will have to ask themselves now and moving forward as Aaron Judge’s return date gets closer. Yankees beat writer Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported yesterday that Aaron Boone stated Aaron Judge could “possibly” be back during the Yankees next homestand, but that he “didn’t want to put a date on it”, reported Kirschner.
It’s no secret that based on the defensive metrics Grisham has become a liability in center field. But he’s been a streaky hitter this season, and when he’s hitting, shows that he’s a valuable member to the Yankees lineup. It’s presumed Judge will return to right field when he returns, but there could also maybe be DH at bats to be had here and there as well. It will be interesting to follow as the Yankees navigate the next several weeks and get ready for a September run and eventual October playoff push.
These are not easy decisions for the organization as they navigate the month of September and then their playoff roster, especially with the return of injured players such as Aaron Judge, Ryan McMahon, and several pitching reinforcements who are working their way back as well from injury.
Yankees’ Trent Grisham’s Struggles Becoming Quite The Concern