Randal Grichuk, now in his 13th season with his seventh team, has gained insights into the unpredictable nature of hitting. It’s a bit odd how a well-hit ball sometimes ends up in a fielder’s glove, while, at other times, something that barely connects turns into an infield single. It just happens.
He’s shifted his focus toward the process rather than solely the results, stressing the importance of maintaining a disciplined approach and making solid contact, which indicates his swing is on track. He even jokes with his hitting coaches, suggesting that a perfect day with bloop singles might feel better than a day filled with hard hits.
But, the time for simply focusing on quality at-bats has passed. With Anthony Volpe returning and one Yankee player sidelined, Grichuk feels the pressure to deliver results. He understands he needs traditional and advanced statistics to align with his performance.
“That’s the frustrating part about my current situation,” Grichuk expressed on Monday.
He was signed late in spring training as a right-handed hitter expected to excel against left-handed pitching. Unfortunately, the Yankees faced very few starting lefties initially; in fact, only Robbie Ray from San Francisco was on the mound during the first 11 games. As a result, he barely got to play in those weeks. Thankfully, he’s showing signs of improvement, even if his actual numbers don’t match his projected ones.
Volpe, who played in Double-A Somerset last week and is now at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, might be ready to join the team soon, making roster decisions tricky.
Could the Yankees send J.C. Escala down? His performance hasn’t been stellar. Or maybe they’ll go for backup catcher Ben Rice, who remains active in practice but hasn’t caught any innings this season.
What about Jose Caballero? It seems unlikely they’ll option him out since he’s a reliable backup at shortstop and a valuable pinch runner late in games.
Then there’s Paul Goldschmidt’s role, which might be diminished as Rice gains more time at first base against lefties, but that seems quite uncertain.
Grichuk came to terms with the situation at hand.
“Volpe’s return is definitely something to keep in mind,” he acknowledged before the Yankees’ impressive win against the Royals. “I think about it—it’s hard not to. Even if things don’t go my way and, honestly, I hope they do, I have to consider that someone else might be scouted based on underlying factors rather than just the numbers.”
His current stats tell a different story: two hits, two doubles, one walk, and eight strikeouts from 20 at-bats in limited play. There were no lefties signed up against the Royals’ Cole Regans on Sunday, adding to his struggles.
But within that narrow range of play, there’s reason for optimism about Grichuk’s abilities. His hard-hit rate stands at 61.5%, placing him 12th among 406 batters with 10 or more at-bats as of Monday. Furthermore, his barrel rate of 30.8% ranks third, surpassing even Aaron Judge at 27.5%. Once he makes contact, he seems to drive the ball well.
Still, he must reduce his strikeout rate—which is currently at 36.4%—to maintain his spot on the roster. A strong performance against Boston’s southpaw pitchers, Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez, could be crucial.
“I believe I’m swinging well, though there’s room for improvement,” Grichuk shared. “There have been some at-bats that should have yielded better results, and that’s frustrating. Ultimately, nobody cares about the process; we need to demonstrate tangible results.”
“I know I’ve hit some solid balls, but they haven’t found gaps. So, I’ve got to keep my confidence high, focusing on what’s in my control as I continue to push forward.”
Grichuk has no intention of leaving the team; he appreciates everyone around him, especially the coaching staff for their preparation efforts and the analytical team for their dedication. He holds a special admiration for the clubhouse, acknowledging Aaron Judge as a supportive leader.
“Honestly, everything has been great,” he reflected. “Well, except for the traffic.”}
