On the day he returned to the lineup, New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius unveiled a project that he had been working on.
Friday was a big day for Didi Gregorius. Eight months after undergoing Tommy John surgery, he made his 2019 debut in the New York Yankees lineup. Overall, it was a solid return to the lineup, as Gregorius was 2-4 with two singles and a strikeout in the Yankees’ 5-2 loss to the Indians.
That return to the lineup was not the only reason that Friday was important for the Yankees shortstop. Gregorius also debuted an animation that he had been working on, depicting his home run during the 2017 AL Wild Card Game.
After 3️⃣.5️⃣ months of almost a 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ digital ✍️ layers to put this clip together for this day pic.twitter.com/zx2id8114o
— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) June 7, 2019
Gregorius is known for his artistic pursuits off the diamond. He is known for his photography and artwork, with this being his first foray into animation. Gregorius also taught himself how to play piano during his downtime this offseason, as he continued to expand his all around talents.
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When retirement eventually comes for any professional athlete, it can be a difficult adjustment. The daily routines which had been ingrained into their lives are over. The day to day, the camaraderie of the locker room, and just the enjoyment of setting foot on the diamond can be tough to leave behind. It is why so many players continue on far past their primes.
That may not be an issue for Gregorius when the time comes. With his artistry and diverse interests, Gregorius will likely not have that problem. In fact, it may be fascinating to see what projects he works on once his career does come to an end.
For now, Gregorius’ focus is on the diamond. Even with their myriad of injuries, the Yankees are atop the AL East standings, fighting to hold off the pesky Tampa Bay Rays. If he can continue from his breakout 2018 campaign, where Gregorius produced a .268/.335/.494 batting line with 27 homers and ten steals, he will help the Yankees in their postseason quest.
Friday was a big day for New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius. Not only did he return to the diamond, but he also unveiled his latest project, an animation featuring one of the biggest moments of his career.