This isn’t just about Trent Grisham. It’s pretty clear that the Yankees’ lineup has been struggling during the ALDS and wildcard series; the players who usually come through in clutch moments didn’t really show up this time around.
Grisham is slated to play in Game 3, an old home game, but his performance in the 2025 playoffs has been pretty underwhelming—3 hits in 20 at-bats, with eight strikeouts. Overall, his postseason numbers aren’t great either; he’s hitting just .165 with 36 strikeouts and a .577 OPS across 24 career playoff games.
Despite this, manager Aaron Boone stood by his center fielder, commenting on the “playoff nature” of the game and suggesting that the small sample size isn’t indicative of Grisham’s abilities. “I trust Trent Grisham and the quality of his swings,” Boone expressed. He acknowledged that Grisham has faced tough matchups, and, well, it’s only been a few games.
Boone also recalled some solid performances by Grisham during the wildcard series against the Mets in 2022, possibly hinting at his potential. Grisham did finish the series with three postseason home runs, but since the NLCS commenced, his bat has gone silent—going 3-for-39 (that’s just .077) with 17 strikeouts over 10 postseason games since that series with the Phillies.
Interestingly, 2025 has been a standout year for Grisham, breaking personal records with 34 home runs, an .811 OPS, 74 RBIs, and 82 walks. For much of the season, he was a key player, especially after struggling for playing time as the fourth outfielder in 2024. He even earned the nickname “Big Sleep,” often coming through in critical moments, like a grand slam against the Astros in September.
Still, his struggles persist; he struck out four times in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series and three times in Game 2 of the ALDS. He primarily faced Garrett Crochet from the Red Sox and Trey Yavage of the Blue Jays during these tough outings.
During Game 2 against Boston, Grisham did manage one extra-base hit, but overall, the Yankees seem to be right on the edge. With Grisham hitting free agency, it’s going to be interesting to see what general manager Brian Cashman decides this offseason.
Boone remains optimistic, saying, “He’s not going to be overwhelmed by the situation. He’s capable of getting on base every time he steps up, and he brings the threat of hitting a home run.” Let’s just hope he can deliver when it counts.
