Yankees' Trent Grisham vows to improve defense after 'personal' struggles

The 29-year-old center fielder looks to bounce back after a down defensive season in 2025.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 7:23pm

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Trent Grisham, the Yankees' starting center fielder, is determined to improve his defense this season after a subpar performance in 2025. Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove winner, acknowledged that his defensive metrics were "down towards the bottom" among qualified center fielders last year, which he took "personally" this offseason. The Yankees believe Grisham's defensive struggles were largely due to lingering hamstring and ankle issues that limited his mobility and range. Grisham, who accepted the team's $22.025 million qualifying offer, is focused on regaining his elite defensive form to complement his breakout offensive season in 2025.

Why it matters

Grisham's defensive prowess has been a key part of his value to the Yankees, and his struggles in that area last season were a concern. The team is counting on him to bounce back and provide Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field to support the lineup. Grisham's ability to play elite defense will be crucial as the Yankees look to build on their success and contend for a championship.

The details

Grisham's minus-11 defensive runs saved were fourth-lowest among qualified center fielders in 2025. The Yankees' outfield coach, Luis Rojas, said Grisham's physical limitations, particularly with his hamstrings, were the main factor in his defensive decline, as he struggled to get to balls hit straight back. Grisham acknowledged that he "took that personally" this offseason and is determined to get back to the level of defense he displayed earlier in his career, when he won Gold Gloves in 2022 and 2023.

  • Grisham came into the 2025 season with a hamstring strain but was able to start the season on time.
  • After returning from the paternity list in late April, Grisham said he was dealing with an ankle issue.
  • On June 30 in Toronto, Grisham left a game early after getting his cleat stuck on the turf while making a running attempt on a sinking liner, which he believed was another hamstring strain.

The players

Trent Grisham

A 29-year-old center fielder for the New York Yankees who is a two-time Gold Glove winner, most recently in 2022.

Luis Rojas

The outfield coach for the New York Yankees.

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What they’re saying

“And I knew I was down towards the bottom of that list last year, so I kind of took that personally this offseason. I definitely wanted to get better and get back to how I was when I was younger.”

— Trent Grisham

“For me, that was the main factor last year, the [physical] limitations. I think a lot of balls, specifically straight back really hurt him, because he had to drop step and then push really hard on those hamstrings. Those were the ones where he was a tad slower than in the past and he couldn't get to some baseballs and it crushed his metrics.”

— Luis Rojas, Outfield Coach

What’s next

Grisham will look to prove he can regain his elite defensive form during spring training and the upcoming 2026 season.

The takeaway

Trent Grisham's commitment to improving his defense after a down year shows his dedication to the team and desire to be an all-around contributor. If he can stay healthy and recapture his Gold Glove-caliber defense, it will be a major boost for the Yankees as they aim to contend for a championship.