The Yankees just got hit with a brutal gut punch. Trent Grisham is officially headed back to the Injured List with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, the same one that sidelined him back in June. This isn’t just a minor tweak, folks, and with only three weeks left in the regular season, you don’t need to be a math whiz to see what this means for his chances in October.
The Ugly Truth About Grisham’s 2026
Let’s be real, it’s been an uneven year for Grisham all around, and this injury just adds insult to, well, injury. He’s slashing .211/.308/.395 with 18 homers and a 95 OPS+, which is not exactly lighting the world on fire. Remember when he was an elite defender? Yeah, he’s been far from that in 2026. Just look at Friday night’s game against San Diego. In the second inning, Xander Bogaerts hit a flare to center that, honestly, most center fielders would’ve at least gotten close to. But Grisham, playing too deep for a guy with an 82 OPS+ and just 11 homers, couldn’t get to it. The ball dipped, Ty France scored, and that misplay allowed the Padres to get their only run in the first nine innings before the Yankees lost in walk-off fashion. Grisham walked off with the team trainer right after, dealing with that familiar hamstring discomfort. Now we know it’s the real deal, a Grade 2, and that’s just a killer.
Who Steps Up Now? And What About October?
With Grisham on the shelf, Jasson Domínguez is flying from Scranton to San Diego to rejoin the team. The former top prospect had his own injury earlier in 2026, and when he’s been on the field, his numbers haven’t exactly screamed “savior.” He’s batting .230/.270/.380 with a 79 OPS+ and exactly 0.0 rWAR. Ouch. Domínguez might only be a short-term answer, especially with Aaron Judge reportedly tracking to return soon. But until then, Spencer Jones is probably going to get the lion’s share of time in center field. Cody Bellinger is another option, though he also banged himself up on a foul ball last night.
This Grisham situation is more than just another IL stint. A Grade 2 strain cost him three weeks back in June, and with only three weeks left in the regular season, the writing is on the wall. Forget rehab games; they aren’t available. The Arizona Fall League doesn’t start until October 3rd. Are they really going to throw him straight into a playoff game, if they even get there? We’ve seen this movie before, right? Think back to 2022 when they rushed Matt Carpenter and DJ LeMahieu back for the playoffs. Carpenter went 1-for-12 with nine K’s, and LeMahieu didn’t even make it. It was a disaster. As Aaron Boone keeps saying, “We’ll see,” but honestly, it feels like this is Grisham’s season over.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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