The New York Yankees were headlined by 2025 AL MVP and MLB batting champion Aaron Judge last year, but Trent Grisham’s breakout season was a revelation. The 5-foot-10, 221-pounder was second on the team with 34 homers and 82 walks and was fourth with a 3.5 WAR, all career-highs.
Grisham also logged a career-high .811 OPS after being below .700 in each of the previous three seasons. The 29-year-old was originally an extra piece in the Juan Soto trade between the Yankees and San Diego Padres in December 2023, but he was one of MLB’s better power hitters last season.
Grisham continued being productive in Wednesday’s Opening Day matchup with the San Francisco Giants, as he dispatched a two-run triple to right in the second inning. The hit put New York up 5-0, and it later won 7-0.
Grisham became the first Yankee to hit a triple on Opening Day since former outfielder Johnny Damon in 2009, per Talkin’ Yanks. That was the last year that the franchise won the World Series.
Trent Grisham is the first Yankee to hit a triple on Opening Day since Johnny Damon in 2009
(h/t @netflixsports) pic.twitter.com/108UPeaZmr— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 26, 2026
Trent Grisham Part of Yankees’ ‘Run It Back’ Campaign
© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
New York didn’t make any major new additions over the offseason despite getting bounced by the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Division Series last year. However, it did re-sign outfielder Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million deal and brought back Grisham on the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer.
This was dubbed the “run it back” strategy by many fans on social media. Although the squad came up short in the postseason, it did lead MLB with a .787 OPS, 274 homers, 820 RBIs, 849 runs, and 639 walks in the regular season. Therefore, the organization chose to keep the same nucleus together and bank on a better playoff performance this year.
Additionally, ace Gerrit Colewill return in late May or early June after missing 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, per ESPN. The Yankees tied with the Blue Jays atop the AL East at 94-68 to end the last regular season, but the latter team took the division title due to head-to-head record (8-5).
If Cole returns to his 2023 AL Cy Young Award-winning form, he could help the squad get 100-plus wins. The right-hander had a 7.5 WAR that year, as he went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA over 33 starts.
For now, New York must keep winning without Cole. Up next is a rematch with San Francisco on Friday at 4:35 p.m. ET. The game will be at Oracle Park.
Related: Aaron Judge Makes Unfortunate MLB History in Yankees’ Opening Day Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
