Trent Grisham, the Yankees’ unexpected X-factor in 2025

Last season, Trent Grisham was little more than a footnote in the Bronx. The former Gold Glove center fielder, acquired in the blockbuster deal that brought Juan Soto to the Yankees, rarely cracked the lineup. In 2024, he played just 76 games—his lowest total since debuting in the majors—and hit a painful .190. When the Yankees reached the World Series, Grisham didn’t log a single at-bat.

For a player who’d been a National League starter for four straight years, it was a harsh reality check. Grisham called it a learning experience. In New York, nothing is guaranteed. Wearing pinstripes demands patience, adaptability, and mental toughness.

The mindset shift that sparked a breakout

While the spotlight stayed fixed on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, Grisham quietly went to work. He trained like a starter but tailored his warm-up routine for the fifth inning, mentally preparing to seize any opportunity. That “mental shift,” as he described it, laid the foundation for his resurgence.

And in 2025, the payoff has been undeniable.

The bat nobody saw coming

Since August 20, no player in Major League Baseball has hit more home runs than Grisham. His 12 homers in under a month pushed his season total to 33. With a .240 batting average and 71 RBIs, he’s no longer a luxury bench piece—he’s a driving force in the Yankees’ offense.

In Wednesday’s win over the Twins, Grisham launched two more bombs. He now has five multi-homer games this season, trailing only MVP contenders Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh in the American League. Once the overlooked part of the Soto trade, Grisham has become a game-changing force.

According to Opta, he’s the first MLB player since Mickey Mantle in 1958 to hit 15+ home runs over a 50-game stretch without recording another extra-base hit.

The glove that never left

While his bat grabs headlines, Grisham’s defense remains elite. A two-time Gold Glove winner (2020, 2022), his range and instincts in center field provide a safety net behind the Yankees’ rotation. His reads off the bat and sure-handed play continue to anchor the most demanding spot in Yankee Stadium.

The name behind the game

Grisham debuted professionally as Trent Clark but changed his name in 2018 to honor his mother, Michelle. She raised him alone, drove cross-country to support his baseball dreams, and stood by him through every youth tournament.

“She’s the best person in the world, and I wanted to honor her,” he said in a minor league interview.

That deep sense of gratitude fuels his resilience. In New York, where every slump is magnified and every misstep scrutinized, Grisham has learned to stay grounded.

His emotional strength is also supported by his wife Megan, a licensed mental health counselor he’s known since sixth grade. Their stability off the field mirrors the calm with which he now faces the game’s toughest moments.

The unexpected protagonist

For the Yankees, Grisham has become an unexpected insurance policy. A team built around Judge now boasts a surprise slugger no rival saw coming. With 33 home runs and counting, Grisham is on pace to eclipse 35—a feat that seemed impossible just a year ago when he was fading into obscurity.

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