New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham is having a career year, and he believes changing his mindset is responsible for his turnaround campaign.
"I was thinking like crap for a few years and playing like crap," Grisham told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News.
The 28-year-old admitted he started feeling sorry for himself while struggling as the starting center fielder for the San Diego Padres. Grisham played for the Padres from 2020-2023 and hit below The Mendoza Line in his final two campaigns in San Diego.
He decided to change his thinking and has since enlisted the help of a sports psychologist. He's also working with Chad Bohling, the Yankees' senior director of organizational performance.
The results have been terrific: Grisham owns a career-best .288/.373/.663 slash line with 12 home runs and 22 RBIs in 34 contests this season. His numbers have been better than Juan Soto's in the latter's inaugural campaign with the New York Mets. The Padres traded Grisham and Soto to the Yankees in the same deal in 2024.
The native Texan barely played during his first campaign with the Yankees, making just 76 appearances. His teammates said he never complained about not seeing the field, even though he was ready and able.
"That could rub somebody the wrong way," Aaron Judge said. "But we never saw it as teammates. He never treated us any different. He never acted different, here in the clubhouse or on the field.
"When he got his name called, he was out there ready to go. And when he didn't, he was right there on the bench, all nine innings, ready to go."
