NORTH PORT, Fla. -- You hear it constantly as teams evaluate players this time of year: Spring Training is far more about the process than on-field results.
That, of course, applies to some players more than others -- but it's particularly true in the case of Randal Grichuk.
The veteran outfielder was a late arrival in camp, reporting to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee after signing a Minor League deal on Feb. 25. Grichuk didn't make his spring debut until Monday, and he has just eight Grapefruit League at-bats after going 0-for-3 in the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Braves on Friday afternoon at CoolToday Park.
There's only so much Grichuk can prove in such a limited sample before the Yankees open the season on March 25 in San Francisco.
“With him, it’s a lot of [what's on] the back of the baseball card," manager Aaron Boone said, referencing Grichuk's 12 years of big league experience.
That's not to say it doesn't matter what Grichuk does with the reps he does get -- but they're also not representative of how he'd be used if he were to make the team. While Grichuk would be used almost exclusively against left-handed pitchers, only half of his eight plate appearances this spring have come against lefties.
Given Grichuk's late start, however, the Yankees are focused more on getting him as many live at-bats as possible, regardless of the opposing starting pitcher.
"Does he look the part physically in the way he’s moving, the way he looks like he has a chance to impact the ball, controlling at-bats, things like that," Boone said when asked how he's evaluating Grichuk.
"It’s not like I’m looking for, ‘Oh, he had another two hits today.’ That being said, you see him against a lefty the other night, hammers a ball to left -- and that looks like what he’s going to be up there doing."
The play Boone is referencing came on Wednesday, when Grichuk ripped a 112.6 mph line-drive double against Blue Jays lefty Eric Lauer. That's exactly the type of thing the Yankees are looking for from Grichuk in his bid to earn the final bench spot.
Though his overall production has dropped off in recent seasons, Grichuk's production against lefties has actually improved from earlier in his career. Over the past four seasons, Grichuk is slashing .293/.342/.534 against left-handed pitchers. His .876 OPS against lefties is more than 200 points higher than it is against righties (.668) during that same span.
Plus, consider this: Grichuk is one of only eight qualified hitters to bat at least .290 with a .525 slugging percentage against southpaws over the past four seasons. The other seven? Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez, Mookie Betts, Jose Altuve, Ketel Marte, Paul Goldschmidt and Yandy Díaz.
“I like that he can really hammer left-handed pitching,” Boone said earlier this week.
The Yankees' lineup figures to be heavy on left-handed hitters, including the two outfielders -- Cody Bellinger in left and Trent Grisham in center -- expected to start alongside three-time American League MVP Judge. While both Bellinger (.822 OPS vs. righties, .806 vs. lefties) and Grisham (.721 vs. righties, .719 vs. lefties) have relatively even platoon splits for their careers, Grisham -- despite a breakout season overall -- slashed just .182/.303/.348 against lefties in 2025.
Of course, that's not to say Grichuk is going to play his way into a platoon role. But his presence could give the Yankees an opportunity to give Grisham a day off here and there with Bellinger sliding to center, or just to use Grichuk off the bench in a tough spot against a lefty.
That’s part of what made the Yankees’ offer so enticing.
“Obviously, they're a really good ballclub with a high chance of making the postseason and a World Series run,” Grichuk said. “That, and there was a clear path to making the squad. A clear need for the kind of player and role that I am now.”
Grichuk will get more opportunities to prove himself over the next week and a half. But, really, the Yankees mostly just want to see that he’s healthy and in a good place physically after getting a delayed start coming out of the offseason.
“I feel good. Body feels good. Mechanically, I’m getting there,” Grichuk said. “I’ve made some strides the last couple days, so that’s a positive. Just hoping to get more reps over the next week to dial it in more and more as we go.”