When Derek Jeter retired from baseball after the 2014 season, Yankees fans all over the country were wondering just how a new name and face would live up to the New York hype after an incredible player and person held the title of shortstop for the Yankees for twenty years. General manager Brian Cashman made the move to bring former Arizona Diamondback Didi Gregorius to the city that never sleeps, and nearly four years later, that move is definitely paying off.
It may be the end of April, but the 28-year-old is making loud noise early on in the 2018 baseball season. The young shortstop has ten home runs, tied for most in the American League, and is making a strong case to win American League player of the month. He leads the league in average, home runs, and runs batted in, all triple crown categories. While it may be too early to talk those awards, Gregorius certainly has his foot on the gas, and no one is slowing him down.
Despite his success and helping his team to a season high seven-game win streak, Didi does not consider himself a home run hitter, as he told YES Network reporter Meredith Marakovits after Friday night’s extra inning win in Anaheim. He is receiving praise from a number of his teammates, as he rightfully should.
Right fielder Aaron Judge said, “He’s got a consistency. Every time he goes up there, he’s hitting it hard somewhere.”
Gregorius has been one of MLB’s underrated players for quite some time, and with an equally impressive 2017 season, he did not make MLB Network’s “Top 10 Shortstops Right Now” list. It may be just one month into baseball season, but Didi Gregorius, home run hitter or not, is making himself a household name.
