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Aaron Judge Has Words for Yankees Outfielder After Giancarlo Stanton Injury News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated May 16, 2025 8:11 AM ET

New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham may return to his familiar spot on the bench when designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton returns in the coming weeks.

Yankees captain Aaron Judge wants to see Judge somewhere else: Atlanta.

“I feel like that’s a guy that should be in an All-Star Game,” Judge said, via the New York Post, “especially with the season he’s putting up.”

Who would have guessed that Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove winner who hit a measly .190 over 209 plate appearances last year, would ever be in the All-Star Game discussion? Are we sure we’re talking about the same Grisham who batted .191 with a .651 OPS from 2022-24?

Indeed, we are. Grisham enters the Subway Series with a .283 average, 12 home runs, and a .996 OPS in 128 plate appearances. He’s already given the Yankees 1.3 bWAR, tied with Paul Goldschmidt for third-highest among Yankees hitters.

Grisham faces one major problem, though. Manager Aaron Boone has all but recently confirmed that Stanton is a full-time designated hitter, and the Yankees have their own DH problems; it doesn’t make sense to bench second-year slugger Ben Rice, nor can the Yankees realistically limit first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s at-bats.

It’s unclear where that leaves Grisham, unless the Yankees intend on giving Rice reps at third base. Although Grisham could theoretically start in center field, Cody Bellinger is making over $25 million. That, coupled with the two-time All-Star’s recent improved hitting, might keep him in the lineup.

However, Grisham has earned a spot among the starting nine. He’s regularly provided clutch hits and continues playing impressive defense for the first-place Yankees.

Trent Grisham in 2024: 9 HR in 76 games.

Trent Grisham on May 7, 2025: 10th HR in 31st game. pic.twitter.com/wFdngkcS7u
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2025

So, what will the Yankees do? Perhaps Boone and management should listen to their captain.

Judge almost certainly won’t publicly Grisham remain in the lineup, not with all that entails. However, it’s worth noting he called Grisham’s bounceback season “incredible” while making his All-Star endorsement.

“I think you give a guy like that—he puts in the work every single day, a Gold Glove defender—give him 500 at-bats, let him go out there and do his things for a whole season and see what happens, good things are going to happen,” Judge said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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