CHICAGO — Trent Grisham blasted his third home run in as many games Friday night at Rate Field. This time it was a grand slam that broke open a tight contest and carried the New York Yankees to their sixth straight win.
The Yankees centerfielder sent a two-out slam into the bullpen in the fourth inning off Yoendrys Gomez. The shot gave New York a 5-0 cushion in what became a 10-2 rout of the Chicago White Sox.
“It’s what I’ve always dreamed about and thought I was capable of,” Grisham said after the game. “To do it is a whole other thing. But no, it does not surprise me.”
Trent Grisham, 28, has turned into an unexpected force for the Yankees’ lineup. He has hit five homers in his last six games and seven in his last 10. His surge has made him one of the club’s most consistent run producers.
From fourth outfielder to leadoff fixture
AP Photo/Matt Marton
A year ago, Grisham was New York’s fourth outfielder. Now he bats leadoff and owns an .836 OPS in late August. His 28 home runs trail only Aaron Judge’s 41 and are 11 more than his previous career best.
“The fact that he’s sitting here as our leadoff guy, over a .350 on-base percentage, 28 homers now, I would have signed up for that in a heartbeat,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Boone has called Grisham “indispensable” to the Yankees’ success. His belief in the outfielder dates back to spring training, though even Boone admitted he didn’t expect this level of production.
The Yankees improved to 75-60 with the victory. They now sit three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East race. Grisham’s steady bat has been key to that push.
Mental breakthrough fuels Grisham’s surge
Grisham credits his streak to a new mental edge. Boone nicknamed him “The Big Sleep” for his calm demeanor off the field. His bat has been anything but quiet.
“I like when I can get my mind to this level,” Grisham said. “It’s a lot of fun to just experience that, learn from that and produce that on a nightly basis. That’s what I’m striving for.”
He admitted it is tough to maintain that sharpness. “It’s really hard to do on a night in and night out basis, just because we’re humans,” he said. “But getting there, that’s a big thrill. To do it and do it with a bunch of guys that are trying to do the exact same thing, and playing against the best players in the world every night, it’s really special.”
Friday’s slam was his fourth career grand slam. It came against Gomez, who started the season with the Yankees but was designated for assignment earlier this year. Gomez walked six batters in four innings and could not escape trouble.
Teammates marvel at clutch hitting
Giancarlo Stanton praised Grisham’s ability to deliver in critical spots. “How clutch he’s been,” Stanton said. “He’s come through in huge moments.”
The slam was Grisham’s second of the season, both coming in Yankees wins. It marks a sharp turnaround for a player who entered 2025 unsure of his role.
This is his seventh big league season and by far his most productive. His previous best was 17 homers in 2019 with Milwaukee.
The Yankees have scored 10 or more runs in four of their last five games. Grisham has been central to that outburst. The lineup has hit 35 homers in its last 11 games and is averaging nearly nine runs during the winning streak.
Career year lifts Yankees’ depth
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The six-game streak is the Yankees’ longest this season. They have won 13 of 17 to strengthen their playoff position and now hold a half-game edge over Boston for the top AL wild-card spot.
“It’s a fun time of year,” Boone said. “There’s a lot on the line. It’s not something we can worry too much about. We’ve got to handle our business, play our game and go.”
Grisham’s leap from bench player to everyday starter has been a game-changer. His combination of patience and power at the top of the order has deepened an already potent offense.
New York drew nine walks against Chicago pitching Friday. It was their third straight game scoring double-digit runs and their 22nd of the season, most in MLB. Grisham’s knack for long at-bats and on-base skills have set up Judge, Stanton, and the middle of the lineup.
Opportunity seized after patient wait
Grisham spent 2024 as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. This spring he fought for more playing time, broke camp as the starting centerfielder, and has not looked back.
His .354 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot has filled a major need. Paired with his surprising power, he has become an automatic entry in the lineup.
“Just heavy at-bats from the jump,” Boone said of the Yankees’ overall approach. “Just a ton of heavy, heavy at-bats.”
Anthony Volpe added to the offense with his first homer since Aug. 12. He went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a bright sign after going 1-for-37 entering the series.
The White Sox fell to 48-87 with the loss. Despite 12 hits, they left runners stranded and could not break through. Catcher Korey Lee pitched a scoreless ninth as a position player.
With 27 games left, Grisham’s hot streak has arrived at the perfect moment. The outfielder once seen as a bench option has turned into the spark the Yankees needed for their playoff run.
