Following an impressive second year in pinstripes, New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius is eager to improve.
In a 2016 season which saw Gregorius reach career-highs in hits (155), home runs (20), RBIs (70) and doubles (32), the 26-year-old also played excellent defense and was a consistent force in the Yankees lineup.
An impressive improvement Gregorius made last season was his ability to hit left-handers. In 148 at-bats against lefties, Gregorius hit .324 with four home runs and 24 RBIs.
“For me, it was just trying to keep my shoulder in,” Gregorius said. “I worked the whole offseason on it. It’s not something that’s going to happen by night. I just tried to to stick with the program.”
Now, Gregorius is looking to get even better in his third year with the Yankees as him and second baseman Starlin Castro continue to grow together a tandem that will be heading into their second year together, but it feels like much more.
“We played like it too,” Gregorius said in reaction to looking like he’s known Castro for a long time. “That’s the funny thing. As soon as he got traded, I already knew a little bit about him. That’s when everything developed.”
As far as success for the Yankees last year, Gregorius was right in the middle of it.
“I think I was a big part of it last year. “Just talking with the young guys that came up and helping each other out with everything. Just stay under control and stay humble, help everyone out.”
As we move closer to the start of the 2017 baseball season, Gregorius continues to remain a critical part of the Yankees lineup, one that will be filled with young talent starting at the shortstop position.