New York Yankees: All-time best shortstops in franchise history

New York Yankees all-time best shortstops – No. 7: Didi Gregorius

15.7 WAR

It seems like an impossible task to replace a legend, and even more so under the bright lights of New York City, but that is precisely what Didi Gregorius did.

When Derek Jeter retired after the 2014 season, he left behind a gigantic void in the middle of the infield. The Yankees acquired Gregorius that offseason, and the young man stepped into the limelight and played very well.

In his first season in pinstripes, he held his own but wasn’t outstanding. He batted .265, hit nine homers, and 56 runs batted in. In 2016, however, he found his stride.

Over the next three seasons, Gregorius average 24 home runs, 77 runs scored, 81 RBI, and batted .277. While these aren’t Hall of Fame numbers, he was an integral part of the Yankees team, on offense and defense.

For most of his time in New York, he was an adequate fielder. According to Fangraphs, he accumulated an Ultimate Zone Rating of 16.5.

In 2019, he suffered an injury that limited him to half a season. Still, he hit 16 round-trippers and drove in 61 in just 82 games.

After the 2019 campaign, Gregorius signed with the Phillies in free agency. His offense helped him accumulate a strong WAR during his five seasons in the Bronx.

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