Throw-in Grisham dims Soto’s superstar glow, alters Yankees trade narrative

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Trent Grisham’s 2025 surge outpaces Juan Soto and challenges the narrative around the Yankees-Padres trade.

The blockbuster trade that brought Juan Soto to the Yankees last offseason dominated headlines across baseball. The narrative was straightforward: New York acquired a generational talent to create a fearsome tandem with Aaron Judge. Fast forward to the 2025 season, and an unexpected subplot has emerged from that same transaction – Trent Grisham, the presumed afterthought in the deal, has dramatically altered the story.

Initially pegged as merely defensive insurance with questionable offensive upside, Grisham has exploded onto the Yankees scene. Through May 1, he’s slashing an impressive .294/.368/.662 with eight home runs, just one shy of his entire 2024 total. This remarkable surge has not only cemented his place in the everyday lineup but forced manager Aaron Boone to reconsider his outfield deployment strategy.

What began as a footnote to the Soto acquisition has evolved into a compelling storyline of its own, with Grisham’s performance sometimes making the Bronx faithful forget who was supposed to be the headliner in that San Diego deal.

From bench warmer to lineup catalyst

Trent Grisham showcased his growing importance during Tuesday’s 15-3 dismantling of the Orioles at Camden Yards. He jumpstarted the offense with his third leadoff homer of the season, triggering a historic back-to-back-to-back sequence as Aaron Judge and Ben Rice followed with round-trippers of their own. This marked the second time in just over a month that New York accomplished this rare feat – echoing their March 29 performance against Nestor Cortes when they belted four first-inning homers, a franchise milestone.

“It really starts with Grish,” Aaron Judge remarked to MLB.com following the game. “It gets you going. It’s just kind of like, ‘Hey, I’ve got to go up there and try to do my job.'”

The leadoff blast represented Grisham’s eighth homer of the young season and his third in just 17 starts. For perspective, he didn’t make his 17th start until June 8 last year, spending most of 2024 relegated to a defensive replacement role behind Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and others. Despite making the postseason roster, he never saw action in October.

Analytics support the breakout

Grisham’s transformation from a .191 hitter with the Padres into a powerful on-base machine at the top of the Yankees order isn’t built on lucky breaks or small sample size anomalies – the underlying metrics validate this evolution.

Key improvements in 2025:

• Ground ball rate: 34.0% (down from 40.0% in 2024)
• Pulled air balls: 26.4% (up from 20.0% last year)
• Sweet-spot launch angle rate: 35.8% (MLB avg: 33.2%)
• Whiff rate: 7.1% swinging strike rate (MLB avg: 10.9%)

He’s consistently elevating the ball more effectively, particularly to his pull side – a crucial adjustment for left-handed hitters aiming to capitalize on Yankee Stadium’s dimensions. His plate discipline, always a strength, remains elite as he continues to rank among MLB’s best in chase rate and exit velocity.

Most tellingly, his expected statistics nearly perfectly align with his actual production. Statcast data shows his expected batting average (.293) and expected slugging percentage (.615) almost mirror his actual numbers (.294/.662), suggesting his results are firmly rooted in improved skill rather than fortunate bounces.

Here’s a comparative analysis of Juan Soto and Trent Grisham’s performances in the 2025 MLB season through April 30:​

Defensive excellence goes on

While his offensive explosion has captured attention, Grisham’s defensive prowess continues to anchor his value. A two-time Gold Glove recipient in center field, he brings range and instincts that few outfielders in the game can match. Even when his bat inevitably cools somewhat, his defensive contributions will likely preserve his lineup spot.

His emergence has created what Boone calls “a good problem” in the Yankees outfield. With Judge firmly established, the team now must balance playing time between Cody Bellinger, Jasson Domínguez, Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice, and Grisham across just four positions: left field, center, first base, and designated hitter.

From salary dump to central figure

Industry reports indicated that San Diego insisted the Yankees absorb Grisham’s contract primarily to offset Soto’s financial impact in the December deal. What was perceived as merely a financial component now looks like one of the most astute aspects of the trade.

After posting a meager .191 batting average with a .647 OPS from 2022-2023, Grisham showed brief flashes of potential in 2024 (.786 OPS in June and July) but never locked down consistent playing time. His 2025 renaissance stems from both mechanical adjustments and psychological growth.

“I’ve been in a good spot mentally, just staying in the present and keeping going,” Grisham explained earlier this spring, according to the New York Post. “My swing felt really good during spring but I would (attribute) it mostly to the mental work I’ve been doing over the past year.”

Post-Soto reality

Juan Soto’s time in pinstripes proved electrifying but fleeting. After delivering a .289 average with 31 home runs and a .953 OPS in 2024, Soto departed via free agency for a historic contract with the Mets. Rather than match the astronomical figure, the Yankees distributed resources across multiple impact players, including re-signing Bellinger and acquiring Goldschmidt.

Grisham’s unexpected ascension might represent the primary reason the Yankees didn’t feel the absence of Soto this season. With production outpacing Soto through April – albeit in fewer games – Grisham has changed the narrative surrounding the Yankees’ loss in the trade after Soto left for the Mets.

Road ahead in pinstripes

While Grisham likely won’t maintain his current 1.030 OPS pace throughout the entire season, the underlying metrics suggest his improvement is legitimate rather than illusory. Enhanced contact quality, disciplined approach, and consistent defensive excellence all point toward sustained success rather than a temporary hot streak.

The Yankees now face the enviable challenge of distributing playing time among too many productive bats. With Stanton’s impending return and Domínguez pushing for additional opportunities, Boone faces tough but welcome decisions.

One reality has become unmistakable: Trent Grisham has transcended his status as a secondary piece in the Juan Soto deal to become an integral component of a Yankees squad with championship aspirations – and one of their most valuable contributors in the early stages of 2025.

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