New York Yankees: Five Reasons For Fans To Stand Up And Cheer

Didi Gregorius came to the Yankees with the unenviable task of replacing a legend. His manager Joe Girardi kept insisting that he was up to the challenge but Yankee fans weren’t having any of that. In New York, it’s Show Me!

In that first year, Gregorius put up what you would call nowadays pedestrian numbers for a shortstop. Playing in 155 games, he batted .265 but managed only 9 home runs and 56 RBI. Yankee fans held nothing against him, but he was still viewed with mostly a ho-hum attitude.

This year though has been his coming of age season. Not only has he looked more confident, he is more confident and he has the numbers to back it up. The batting average has gone up to around .280 and he has a good chance to finish with 20 home runs and 70 RBI. Even better than that, he has only 80 strikeouts which in this day and age is a Ruthian accomplishment.

And even better than that, he’s just 26 and he’ll be taking his place next year as a veteran Baby Bomber. He’ll continue to have a upside for at least five more years and it’s not inconceivable that he would develop into a solid .290 hitter while banging out 25 home runs and driving in 90.

He’s hit just about anywhere in the order Girardi has placed him and his fielding, while not spectacular, has been reliable. He makes the plays a major league shortstop is supposed to make.

No one can ever replace Derek Jeter. But he doesn’t have to. All he needs to do is be Didi Gregorius and that should be more than enough.