Meet the 2019 Yankees: Didi Gregorius

The New York Yankees will be without their starting shortstop for at least a portion of the 2019 season, but that doesn’t mean we are going to leave him out of our introductions. Didi has already begun a throwing program as a part of his rehab with Tommy John surgery and looks to be on track for a July or August return to the club. The Yankees have depth around Didi and can afford to give Gregorius all the time that he needs to fully heal and recover, so while he does that let’s get reacquainted with the emoji man himself. Sir Didi Gregorius.

Didi Gregorius, recently 29-years old, is a left-handed batting and right-handed throwing shortstop that came over to the New York Yankees to replace the legendary Derek Jeter. Didi, all 6’3” and 205 lbs. of him, is a very aggressive hitter at the plate and has all the tools to hit .300 and 30 home runs in a season, especially playing his home games inside of Yankee Stadium. Didi is under 30% with his swings and misses and is more than happy to take his walks and keep the line moving in the Yankees lineup. I, myself, deemed him the best complete hitter in the Yankees lineup before the 2018 season and even had him hitting 3^rd in the lineup, a comment and opinion that I was absolutely grilled for on Twitter and in the blog… well, until it became a reality for Aaron Boone and the team that season.

Sir Mariekson Julius “Didi” Gregorius was born on February 18^th, 1990 (happy belated to Didi) in Amsterdam, Netherlands to Johannes Gregorius Sr. and Sheritsa Stroop. At the time of Didi’s birth, his father pitched for the Amsterdam Pirates in Honkbal Hoofdklasse while also working as a carpenter. His mother, Stroop, played for the Dutch national softball team while his older brother, Johannes, Jr., pitched professionally in Honkbal Hoofdklasse as well as the Italian Baseball League. Didi had baseball in his blood and began playing tee-ball in the Netherlands before being moved at the age of five to Curacoa. Didi adopted the nickname because his teammates could not pronounce his given name, Mariekson. It probably wasn’t an issue for Gregorius, given the fact that he speaks four different languages including English, Dutch, Papiamentu, and Spanish. That, along with his on-the-field play, caught the eye of the Cincinnati Reds who signed Didi as an amateur free agent in 2007. Didi chose the Reds over other suitors, including the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, because of Cincinnati’s willingness to start Gregorius in the United States rather than the Dominican or Venezuelan Summer Leagues. Gregorius worked his way through the Reds minor league system until he earned a September call-up on September 1, 2012. Gregorius played in eight games for the Reds that season and was assigned to the Arizona Fall League following the season.

With Didi being blocked at shortstop by Zack Cozart, the Reds ultimate traded Gregorius to the Arizona Diamondbacks as a part of a three-team trade involving the Cleveland Indians. The Reds sent Gregorius along with Drew Stubbs in exchange for Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Donald. The Indians then sent Gregorius to Arizona with reliever Tony Sipp and infielder Lars Anderson for pitchers Trevor Bauer, Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers. Gregorius played 103 games for the Diamondbacks in 2013 before heading into camp with the Diamondbacks in 2014 to compete for the starting job with Chris Owings. Owings ultimately won the job out of spring and Didi began the season back in Triple-A, although an injury to Cliff Pennington brought Gregorius back to the big-league club for the remainder of the 2014 season.

The Yankees needed a shortstop after the retirement of Derek Jeter, and they set their eyes on Gregorius. The Yankees, in another three-team trade, sent young pitcher Shane Greene to the Detroit Tigers while receiving Gregorius back from the Diamondbacks. Detroit then sent Robbie Ray and Domingo Leyba to Arizona. Gregorius struggled out of the gate for the Yankees in 2015, but eventually turned it around to have a good season. Gregorius really took off for the Yankees in 2016, finishing the season with a .276 average with 20 home runs and 70 RBI, including a career high in hits (155), doubles (32), home runs (20), and RBI (70). Gregorius would miss the beginning of the 2017 season after injuring his shoulder in the World Baseball Classic. Gregorius was activated on April 28 and immediately began assaulting opposing pitchers to the tune of a .286 average with 25 home runs and 87 RBI, all while missing the entire first month of the season. Didi did not stop hitting home runs in the postseason in 2017 either as the Yankees shortstop hit a game-tying three-run home run in the first inning of the 2017 American League Wild Card Game after the Minnesota Twins had taken an early 3-0 lead. Didi hit two home runs off Corey Kluber in the ALDS Game 5 as well, leading the Yankees within one game of the 2017 World Series before falling to the eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros.

Didi finished the 2018 season with over 20 home runs for the third straight season, but by the time the Yankees were eliminated in the American League Division Series at the hands of the Boston Red Sox the team announced that Didi would require Tommy John surgery on his throwing right elbow. Didi is expected to be out until July 1^st at the earliest, but more than likely until August of this season. Until then, Troy Tulowitzki will try and keep his shortstop position warm for him. Get well soon, Didi, and we sure will miss you on the field while your elbow mends.

TGP Trivia and Fact of the Day for February 20th, 2019

Good morning Yankees family!!

Can you name the top five Yankees in World Series batting average, among players with at least 40 at-bats?

Highl;ight below to see the answer, but before you do... leave your guesses in the comments below:



Bobby Brown (.439), Reggie Jackson (.400), Hideki Matsui (.389), Thurman Munson (.373), and Lou Gehrig (.361). 



And a special good morning to the most beautiful woman in all the land, my Kari. I love you!

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Gleyber Torres

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Gleyber Day! He’s the Gleyber of the month! Ok, on a serious note though, how important is Gleyber Torres going to be for the New York Yankees here in 2019? Name a position and Gleyber could probably play it in a pinch. Troy Tulowitzki goes down? Slide Gleyber in at shortstop and let DJ LeMahieu play second base. DJ goes down? Gleyber back to second. Andujar goes down or need a day off? Like a good neighbor, Gleyber is there. Hell, I bet Torres could even play first base if he had to, the kid is just that talented. Let’s meet possibly the most important and integral part of the Yankees infield this season, Mr. Gleyber Torres.

Gleyber Torres, 22-years old, is a right-handed infielder for the New York Yankees with experience at second base, shortstop, and the third base positions. Gleyber loves to wait on a fastball and drive it out of the ballpark, but he can also handle his own on breaking pitches as we saw throughout the 2018 campaign with the Yankees. Standing 6’1” and weighing in at 200 lbs. this young man is the future of the New York Yankees infield and is under team control through the 2024 season.

Gleyber David Torres Castro was born on December 13, 1996 in Caracas, Venezuela to parents Eusebio Torres and Ibelise Castro. His parents were said to be intrigued by the name “Qleyber” and decided to name their son Gleyber because of its uniqueness. Torres started playing baseball at the age of four as a center fielder, catcher, pitcher, and eventually as a shortstop. Gleyber grew up watching games on television and idolized players like Omar Vizquel. By the age of 14, Gleyber had caught the eye of many MLB scouts including the Chicago Cubs who ultimately decided to sign Torres as an International free agent in 2013 for a $1.7 million signing bonus.

Torres made his professional debut in 2014 with the Arizona Cubs before working his way up to Class A-Advanced ball in 2016, just in time for the Cubs to trade Gleyber to the New York Yankees along with Adam Warren, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford for closer Aroldis Chapman. Torres was immediately assigned to the Tampa Yankees and was also assigned to the Arizona Fall League following the season. Torres won the AFL MVP Award in 2016, becoming the youngest player to do so, and quickly became the top-rated Yankees prospect heading into the 2017 season and the fifth best prospect overall according to Baseball America. Torres was invited to spring training camp in 2017 but was ultimately assigned to Double-A to begin the season.

Torres was promoted to Triple-A in May of 2017, but a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his non-throwing left elbow ended his season on June 19. Gleyber underwent Tommy John surgery and finished the 2017 season batting .287/.383/.480 with seven home runs and 34 RBI for the Trenton Thunder and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders combined. Gleyber was invited back to Yankees spring training camp in 2018 but was ultimately assigned to Triple-A to begin the year. Gleyber stayed n the minor leagues until April 22 when the Yankees called him up to make his MLB debut against the Toronto Blue Jays. Gleyber went 0-4 in the contest, but he collected his first hit the next night against the Minnesota Twins. Torres was selected to the All-Star Game as an American League reserve in his rookie season, but he did not play in the game. Gleyber also hit the Yankees 265^th home run as a team in 2018, breaking the 1997 Seattle Mariners all-time record for most home runs as a team in a single season. That home run also marked the 20^th home run out of the 9^th spot in the batting order, thus making the Yankees the first team in history to have at least 20 home runs from every spot in the batting order.

Gleyber finished the season in the American League Division Series, falling to the Boston Red Sox. Gleyber had an amazing rookie campaign with the Yankees and finished 3^rd overall in the AL Rookie of the Year Award voting. Gleyber will look to be even better here in 2019 and will look to lead the Yankees even further into the postseason. Good luck to you, Gleyber, and much respect and love.

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Greg Bird

If Luke Voit is the incumbent, the Goliath, then you have to think that Greg Bird is David, right? I mean, aside from a big home run or two in the 2017 postseason, Greg Bird and his health have left much to be desired. Bird essentially lost his starting job at first base last season to Voit and is in camp looking to win it back. Can he do it? Only time will tell, but while we wait for it all unfold this spring let’s get reacquainted with the Birdman of New York.

Greg Bird, 26-years old, is a left-handed batting and right-handed throwing first baseman that was originally drafted as a catcher by the New York Yankees. Bird does not swing and miss as much as some, the lefty has right around a 33% swing and miss rate, but he will never be a .300 hitter at the MLB level either. Bird has an uppercut swing that could take advantage of the short porch inside Yankee Stadium if he is ever healthy enough to play a full, productive season.

Gregory Paul Bird was born on November 9, 1992 in Memphis TN. His family eventually moved him to Aurora, Colorado where the lefty swinging Bird attended Grandview High School. While at the school, Bird was a catcher and the battery mate of MLB pitcher Kevin Gausman. Bird was named the Colorado Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year as a senior and committed to attending the University of Arkansas to play college baseball. The Yankees drafted Bird in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB First Year Players Draft, hoping a $1.1 million signing bonus would convince him to bypass his commitment to Arkansas. Bird eventually signed with the Yankees and was immediately moved to first base.

Bird played four games after signing in 2011 and another 28 games in 2012, this time due to injury. Bird had a breakout season in 2013 and even won the Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees Minor League Player of the Year. Bird reached as high as Double-A in 2014 before heading to the Arizona Fall League after the season, including a trip to the AFL Fall Stars Game. With an AFL MVP Award in his hands he headed back to Double-A, and eventually to Triple-A, for the 2015 season before the New York Yankees big league club came calling on August 13. Bird made his MLB debut that same night and ended the game 0-5. Bird became the Yankees everyday starter after Teixeira suffered a shin fracture on a hit-by-pitch that ended his season.

Bird suffered a right shoulder injury during the offseason before the 2016 season and was never quite right, even after a successful surgery to repair a torn labrum. Bird missed the entire 2016 season before heading down to the AFL once again to get some work in before the 2017 season. Bird made it through spring training healthy in 2017, we thought anyway, but an ankle injury that he sustained in the spring landed him on the disabled list on May 2^nd, thus hampering what looked to be a strong season for the Yankees first baseman. Bird was later diagnosed with an injury to the os trigonum in his right foot and would need to have surgery to remove the bone. After missing 103 games, Bird returned to the lineup just in time for the 2017 postseason. Bird would come back and hit an integral home run off Cleveland Indians pitcher Andrew Miller in Game 3 of the ALDS, keeping the Yankees season alive. Bird served as the Yankees final out in Game 7 of the ALCS, ending the Yankees season just one game shy of the World Series.

Bird underwent ankle surgery in March of 2018 and returned off the disabled list on May 26, but he never seemed to fully have his legs under him the rest of that season. Bird struggled once again and saw him playing time diminish after the Yankees acquired Luke Voit in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Now, Bird will have to fight for his job back this spring and either win the job outright, or presumably head back down to Triple-A to begin the 2019 campaign. Nobody wants that, so let’s put in some work. Good luck, Greg. I am personally rooting for you and counting on you because I know a healthy Greg Bird not only makes the offense better in 2019, but it makes the defense significantly better as well. Get it done!

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Luke Voit

Photo credit: Elite Sports NY

One of the few spring training competitions this spring will be at the first base position for the New York Yankees. Greg Bird was the incumbent until Brian Cashman picked up basically, at the time, a career minor league player in Luke Voit from the St. Louis Cardinals. Voit immediately took the league, and the Yankees fans in the Bronx, by storm with his on-the-field play and energy, as well as with his off-the-field intense workout videos. Now Voit is back in 2019 looking to not be the next Shane Spencer or Chad Curtis, so let’s check in with him. Luke Voit, ladies and gentlemen.

Luke Voit, 28-years old, is a right-handed batting and throwing first baseman in the New York Yankees organization. Luke, standing 6’3” and weighing in at a solid 225 lbs., is an aggressive fastball hitter that is prone to swing and miss a lot, but when he makes contact the ball tends to go the other way towards the short porch in right field inside Yankee Stadium. Voit has shown patience on breaking pitches and offspeed pitches, but throughout his career he has been prone to the strikeout and prolonged slumps.

Louis Linwood Voit III was born on February 13, 1991 in Wildwood, Missouri where he attended Lafayette High School. Voit was drafted out of high school by the Kansas City Royals in the 32^nd round of the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft but did not sign and instead opted to attended Missouri State University. While at the school, Voit played for the Missouri State Bears where he caught the eye of the St. Louis Cardinals, who drafted the senior in the 22^nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Voit, drafted as a catcher, immediately began his professional career within the Cardinals system before being ultimately moved to first base during the 2014 season.

Voit remained in the Cardinals system until June 25, 2017 when St. Louis called him up to the Major Leagues after hitting .322 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI with the Memphis Redbirds. Voit totaled 114 at-bats for the Cardinals in 2017, bouncing back and forth between Triple-A and the majors, posting a .246 average with four home runs and 18 RBI. Voit was back in the minors for much of the 2018 season before the New York Yankees came calling on July 27, acquiring Voit along with bonus pool money for LHP Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos. Voit was initially assigned to Triple-A Scranton before being promoted to the Bronx on August 2. Voit went back down to Triple-A on August 13 but was called back up to stay on August 21 after Didi Gregorious was added to the 10-day disabled list.

After his call-up, Voit essentially stole the first base job from incumbent Greg Bird by batting .333 with 14 home runs, 33 RBI and by posting a 1.095 OPS in 39 games down the stretch for New York. Voit was the Yankees starting first baseman in the 2018 American League Wild Card Game as well as their ALDS trip against the Boston Red Sox and will head into the spring of 2019 hoping to keep his stranglehold on the position. Good luck to you Luke. I have to admit, I have been down on you more than most this offseason, so prove me wrong. Much love.

TGP Trivia and Fact of the Day for February 19th, 2019

Good morning Yankees family!!

Did you know that it took about 45,000 cubic yards of concrete, 11,800 tons of structural steel and 15,000 gallons of paint, among other materials, to build the current Yankee Stadium in the Bronx that opened up in 2009? I didn't either, well not until today.

Have a great day everyone, especially to you my wife. I love you.

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Aaron Judge

The 2019 Yankees, much like the 2018 and 2017 versions, will live and die by the towering presence in right field named Aaron Judge. This is my opinion only, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I am not going to be the only person who really thinks so. Judge is a beast with the bat and a stellar defender with a rocket for an arm out in right field, but he is also the heart and soul of the team. As Judge goes, the team goes, so let’s get reacquainted with the man that will tow the line for the New York Yankees all season long here in 2019. Mr. Aaron Judge everybody.

Aaron Judge, 26-years old, is a right-handed hitting and throwing right fielder for the New York Yankees. While in the minor leagues Judge was used as a center fielder and left fielder as well, showing a familiarity with all three outfield positions throughout his MLB and professional career. Judge is going to strike out a lot, but he is also going to hit home runs a lot and drive in runs a lot while hitting around the .280 mark, if history is any indicator of his future.

Aaron James Judge was born on April 26, 1992 in Linden, California where he was adopted the day after he was born by Patty and Wayne Judge. Both of Aaron’s parents were school teachers. Judge attended Lindgren High School where he was a three-sport star. Judge was a pitcher and a first baseman for the baseball team, a wide receiver for the football team, and was a center for the basketball team. Judge excelled at all three sports, but he especially caught the eye of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Stanford Cardinals in college football, both wanted Judge to play tight end, as well as the Oakland Athletics and Fresno State University. The Oakland Athletics selected Judge in the 31^st round of the 2010 MLB First Year Players Draft, but instead Judge opted to go to college and play baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team. Judge slugged his way to a WAC tournament title and College Baseball Home Run Derby, among other accolades, through the 2013 season before the New York Yankees drafted the right fielder in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft, 32^nd overall. Judge signed with the Yankees for $1.8 million and began his professional career with the club in 2014.

By 2015, the Yankees invited Judge to the spring training camp and also had their right fielder at the highest minor league level of Triple-A. Judge represented the Yankees in the 2015 All-Star Futures Game, but the team kept him out of their batch of September call ups due to a roster crunch. Judge was chosen as a 2016 Triple-A All Star but opted not to play in the game after spraining his knee earlier in the season. Judge, instead, got healthy and took the time off, hoping for a call up to the Major League level, a call that would come on August 13, 2016. Judge made his MLB debut against the Tampa Bay Rays that day and hit a home run in his first at-bat, just one at-bat after Tyler Austin, also making his MLB debut, also hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat. This was the first time a pair of teammates hit home runs in their first career at-bats in the same game. Judge was named the Yankees Opening Day starting right fielder for the 2017 season, and the beginning of a special season took off almost immediately.

The Yankees debuted a cheering section in the right field seats in 2017 called “The Judge’s Chambers” on May 22 after Judge won AL Rookie of the Month in April. Judge won the award again during the month of May en route to being voted as the starting right fielder for the American League in the 2017 All-Star Game. Judge broke the Yankees rookie record for most home runs in a season when he hit his 30^th home run, passing Joe DiMaggio and became just the second rookie ever, the first being Mark McGwire, to have 30 home runs before the All-Star break. Judge won the 2017 Home Run Derby and even passed McGwire for the most home runs by a rookie in a single season when he hit his 49^th and 50^th home runs on September 25. Judge led the Yankees to the AL Wild Card, an eventual win over the Minnesota Twins, and within one game of the 2017 World Series before ultimately falling to the Houston Astros in the seventh game of the ALCS. Judge was unanimously voted as the American League Rookie of the Year in 2017 and also finished 2^nd in the AL MVP Award vote behind Houston’s Jose Altuve.

Judge was back to prove that there wouldn’t be a sophomore slump, and he did just that in 2018 for the New York Yankees. Judge was once again a starting outfielder in the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, although the Yankees right fielder chose to skip the Home Run Derby this season. Judge wondered if a shoulder injury that required surgery the previous offseason was caused by participating in the 2017 Derby but skipping the event would not keep Judge off the disabled list in 2018. Judge was struck on the wrist by Kansas City Royals starter Jakob Junis, causing Judge to miss two months with the injury. Judge led the Yankees past the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 AL Wild Card Game, but the Yankees fell just short in the ALDS against the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox, ending their season prematurely.

Here are a few of the New York Yankees and general MLB records that Judge already holds in his young career, shout out to Wikipedia for these:

New York Yankees franchise records[edit]

• Most home runs in a season hit at home: 33 (Babe Ruth held the record with 32).
• Most home runs in a season by a rookie: 52 (Joe DiMaggio held the record with 29)^[95]
• First right-handed hitter in Yankees history with at least 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored and 100 walks in a single season
• Fifth player in franchise history to start an All-Star Game in the first two seasons. (Following Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Lefty Gomez.
• Most home runs (4) in the first seven home playoff games, tying Reggie Jackson (1977–78).

MLB records[edit]

• Most home runs by a rookie, 52 (Mark McGwire held record with 49)^[96]
• Measured exit velocity of 121.1 miles per hour (194.9 km/h), again setting a new record for the hardest ever measured by Statcast. (June 10, 2017)^[97]
• Holds the MLB record for striking out in 37 consecutive games. (2017)^[98]
• Holds the MLB record for most strikeouts by a rookie with 208.
• Holds the MLB record for most walks by a rookie with 127.
• First rookie in MLB history with at least 45 home runs, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored.^[99]
• Most golden sombreros in postseason play since 1903.^[100]
• Fastest to reach 60 home runs (197 games)^[101]

Will Judge add any this year in 2019? I surely think so, but you will just have to stay tuned to find out. All Rise, because here comes the Judge.

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Troy Tulowitzki

The New York Yankees signed one of the best shortstops to play the game during my lifetime, but the problem is the team did it about five years too late in my opinion. I say this not trying to be down on Troy Tulowitzki, but I will preface that by saying that Troy has a lot to prove this season in the health department. On January 4, 2019 the Yankees announced that they would sign Tulo for a league minimum deal worth $555k with a full no-trade clause to be their starting shortstop until Didi Gregorius returns from the 60-day disabled list. AJ Cole was designated for assignment, which was news enough for me with the deal, and the Tulo era in the Bronx officially began… so let’s meet him. Your 2019 Opening Day shortstop for the New York Yankees, Mr. Troy Tulowitzki.

Tulo, 34-years old, is a right-handed batter and throwing shortstop that stands 6’3” and weighs in at 205 lbs. Tulo did not play at all in 2018 after a pair of heel injuries ended his season prematurely and will look to play more than the 66 games he played in 2017 with the Toronto Blue Jays here in 2018 with the New York Yankees.

Troy Trevor Tulowitzki was born on October 10, 1984 in Santa Clara, California. Tulo graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, California where he earned four varsity letters in baseball and another two in basketball. Tulo was also All-State twice in baseball and was a three-time MVP award winner with the school including his junior season when he batted .536 and also pitched to a 15-1 record. After High School, Tulo enrolled at California State University, Long Beach where he played college baseball for the Long Beach State Dirtbags. Tulo won many accolades and awards while with the Dirtbags and eventually caught the eyes of the Colorado Rockies who chose Tulo seventh overall in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft.

Tulo signed and was immediately assigned to the Rockies minor league system where his professional career took off. By 2006, Tulo had already reached Double-A with the Tulsa Drillers and also appeared in the 2006 All-Star Futures Game. By the end of August, after just 126 minor league games, the Rockies promoted Tulo to the major leagues to make his debut against the New York Mets. Tulo finished the 2006 season out with Colorado and headed into the spring of 2007 competing for the starting shortstop job with incumbent Clint Barmes. Tulo would not only win the job that spring, but he would also win the team’s spring training MVP award. Tulo set an MLB record for fielding percentage as a rookie with a .987 FLD% and finished second in the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award to Ryan Braun by two points despite leading all rookies in many key categories. Before winning the award, though, he led the Rockies into the postseason and past the San Diego Padres in a Wild Card tie-breaker game. The Rockies faced off with the Phillies and swept them in the NLDS before sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS to advance to the World Series. Unfortunately, the Rockies had to face off with the red-hot Boston Red Sox in the World Series and would ultimately be swept away in four games.

After just one season the Rockies had seen enough to commit a six-year deal and $31 million to their starting shortstop including a club option for the 2014 season. Tulo looked to repeat his great season in 2008, but unfortunately, he would see the injury bug in April after tearing his left quadriceps tendon against the San Francisco Giants. Tulo returned on June 20^th of that season only to head back to the disabled list on July 5, 2008 with a laceration in his palm. Tulo returned 15 days later and completed his 2008 season falling short of the expectations set by the previous year in Colorado. Tulo finished 5^th in the voting for the NL MVP Award in 2009 before a fractured wrist ended his season in June of 2010. Tulo was named to the NL All-Star Game in 2010 after fracturing his wrist, but he was ultimately replaced by Jose Reyes since he could not participate in the game inside Angels Stadium. Tulo finished 5^th in the MVP voting again in 2010 and the Rockies shortstop also won his first Gold Glove Award. Tulo was once again rewarded with an extension by the Rockies after the season as well after a strong campaign. After the 2010 season the Colorado Rockies gave Tulo another six-year extension, on top of the three-years he already had remaining on his contract along with his option for a fourth year, worth $120 million.

Tulo returned to the All-Star Game in 2011 after being chosen as a reserve player. This time an injury to Jose Reyes of the Mets allowed Tulo to start the game in Phoenix, Arizona. Tulo finished the 2011 season with his second consecutive Gold Glove Award as well as his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award as well. Tulo looked to continue his string of great play for the Rockies, but a groin injury that occurred on May 30, 2012 ended his season after just 47 games. Tulo made a return to the NL All-Star team in 2013 despite missing 25 games with a fractured rib, but the shortstop saw his 2014 season end prematurely again due to injury on July 20. Tulo underwent a labral repair surgery in his left hip after the game which ended his season after just 91 games. Tulo returned in 2015 and made his fifth All-Star game as a Rockies player, replacing Dee Gordon, and was batting .300 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI in 87 games before being traded along with LaTroy Hawkins to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Jose Reyes, Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Jesus Tinoco.

Tulo was angry with Rockies GM Jeff Bridich at the time of the trade and vowed to never speak to him or other members of the Rockies front office after keeping their shortstop in the dark about the trade until it was finalized. Tulo vowed to let playing for a contender revitalize his career. Tulo missed time with a cracked shoulder blade after the trade, but was able to return before the postseason, helping lead the Blue Jays to the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals. Toronto would ultimately end up losing the series to the eventual champion Kansas City Royals, but the Blue Jays were presumably excited about their chances of returning to the postseason in 2016 with Tulo playing shortstop for them. Tulo struggled for the Jays in 2016 and missed 20 games due to a right quad strain while the Blue Jays finished second in the AL East, missing the postseason. Tulo remained injured in 2017, missing all but 66 games due to various injuries including a hamstring injury and a right ankle sprain that eventually was diagnosed as ankle ligament damage. That same right ankle kept Tulo out of spring training camp with the Blue Jays in 2018 after bone spurs required surgery.

Before the 2019 season the Blue Jays released Tulo from the remaining two-years and $38 million on his contract, thus making him a free agent. Tulo held a workout for all teams to attend and caught the eyes of many scouts and GM’s including the GM of the New York Yankees, Brian Cashman. The Yankees signed Tulo to a one-year deal at the league minimum and included a full no-trade clause in the contract to be the team’s starting shortstop until Didi Gregorius returned from having Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.

Welcome to the organization, finally, and welcome to the family, Tulo. Do us proud!

Meet the 2019 Yankees: DJ LeMahieu

On January 14^th, 2019 the New York Yankees signed second baseman DJ LeMahieu to a two-year deal worth $24 million. While many said the deal came out of nowhere, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I called it back on October of 2018. I saw something in DJ early on and the New York Yankees obviously did as well, so let’s meet our 2019 New York Yankees. DJ LeMahieu, everybody.

LeMahieu, 30-years old, stands 6’4” and weighs in at 215 lbs. LeMahieu bats from the right side and throws from the right side and will likely be the Yankees starting second baseman for much of the 2019 season, although the Yankees have already instructed DJ to bring “a lot of gloves” with him as the team plans to play him all over the infield.

David John LeMahieu was born on July 13, 1988 in Visalia, California. LeMahieu’s parents moved him and his family out to Michigan where DJ attended Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. While at the school, DJ played shortstop and pitched for the school’s baseball team before committing to the LSU Tigers at Louisiana State. As a senior, the Detroit Tigers drafted LeMahieu in the 41^st round of the 2007 MLB First Year Players Draft. LeMahieu decided to not sign with Detroit and head to LSU to begin his collegiate career. While at LSU LeMahieu was moved to his natural position of second base during the 2009 season. LeMahieu led the LSU Tigers to the postseason and all the way to the College World Series in 2009 before winning the National Championship and 2009 College World Series All-Tournament Team honors.

The wave of emotions was not done during 2009, not by a long shot, as the Chicago Cubs came calling in the second round, 79^th overall, of the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft. LeMahieu signed with Chicago and officially began his professional career with the Peoria Chiefs. LeMahieu remained in the Cubs organization through the 2011 season until Chicago traded their second baseman, along with Tyler Colvin, to the Colorado Rockies for Casey Weathers and Ian Stewart. LeMahieu would make his MLB debut with the Rockies the next season after Colorado called DJ up on May 23, 2012 and would remain in the majors after a strong rookie campaign.

LeMahieu would win his first National League Gold Glove Award in 2014 with 16 defensive runs saved for the Rockies. DJ followed that up by being named the National League’s starting second baseman for the All-Star Game in 2015, his first selection to the Mid-Summer Classic, and his first National League batting title in 2016 hitting .348. LeMahieu made another trip to the All-Star Game in 2017, replacing injured second baseman Dee Gordon, while also winning the Fielding Bible Award as well this season. LeMahieu would win his second National League Gold Glove Award in 2018 before hitting the free agent market this winter.

LeMahieu is a great defensive player and a player with opposite field power and control, both of which will fit in well with the Yankees and inside Yankee Stadium. In my opinion we could see LeMahieu hit 20+ home runs this season while hitting at or above the .300 mark while providing Gold Glove Award winning defense all over the field, especially at second base.

DJ, welcome to the organization, welcome to the team, welcome to the big lights and the big city, but most importantly… welcome to the family. 2019 is World Series or bust for New York and their fans, so no pressure.

TGP Trivia and Fact of the Day for February 18th, 2019

Good morning Yankees family!!

What Yankees player holds the World Series record for the following categories: games, at-bats and hits - and is tied for the all-time lead in doubles?

Highlight below to see the answer, and leave your answer in the comments section



Yogi Berra



And a special good morning to you my wife, my love, my everything.