Center Field Dynamics for the Yankees

This season, among the 59 outfielders who have played at least 10 games in center field, Trent Grisham finds himself at the bottom, ranking 59th in sprint speed. It’s kind of surprising, really.

On the other hand, you have Spencer Jones, who is currently 39th out of 521 major leaguers in sprint speed. He’s an outstanding athlete and, hypothetically, if he were positioned in center field, he could be one of the fastest out there.

But in the Yankees’ recent game, a 4-1 victory over the Mariners, Grisham took to center field for the 97th time this season. He hasn’t played any games in the corners, while Jones, who has a bit more versatility, occupied right field. Manager Aaron Boone noted that this setup reflects the team’s preference for Grisham’s experience over Jones’s natural athletic ability, especially for a demanding position like center field.

Grisham, who previously solidified his place as a center fielder with the Padres where he won Gold Gloves in both 2020 and 2022, only spent three seasons in that role for the Yankees so far. Interestingly, back in 2020, his foot speed was an advantage, ranking 18th among all major leaguers at 29.1 feet per second during his fastest moments.

Now, though, that number has dropped to 26.6, which is quite a change. His limitations are becoming clearer, especially when he needs to track balls that go behind him—like a safety who reads the game well but just can’t close in fast enough. Currently, he ranks last among center fielders according to Outs Above Average.

Outfield coach Luis Rojas commented, “He’s having a tough time making a comeback,” mentioning how past hamstring injuries may be weighing on him. “He knows it and is putting in the effort.” Yet, Rojas also pointed out that Grisham excels at making plays coming in and is quite adept at shoestring and diving catches.

Balancing his strengths in quick reactions and routes with his struggles in retreating, Grisham sits at 39th out of 40 in above-average outings. In another metric, known as “Defense Allowed,” he ranks 58th out of 68 outfielders who’ve logged at least 100 innings in center.

Observations from games show instances where Grisham seems hampered. Take Thursday’s game against St. Louis; he failed to reach a deep drive from JJ Weatherholt. In that moment, it was evident that age and wear might be catching up with him.

But be it speed issues or otherwise, Boone considers more than just raw numbers when setting lineups. He remarked on Grisham’s extensive experience, calling him dependable when it comes to routes and game nuances.

Jones, who spent most of his minor league career in center, isn’t guaranteed instant success if given that role on the big stage. Boone acknowledged Jones’s experience in the corners from his minor league days, saying that it has aided his adaptability.

What does all this mean? The Yankees are banking on a center fielder who, while older and slower than most, brings invaluable experience to the game—and there’s always the hope that Grisham can regain some of that lost speed.

While Grisham may not return to being the fleet-footed player he once was, he’s feeling more secure now as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained earlier in June. So, there’s a glimmer of hope that he might still have another gear left in him.

“I think he’s back to being perfectly healthy,” Rojas said. “But an injury like that lingers in your mind. You want to contribute for the team. Grish is definitely a player you want backing you up.”