Trent Grisham: The Padres’ iron man centerfielder of the present and future
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego Padres’ outfielder Trent Grisham is playing well in 2020.
The San Diego Padres are playing some of the best baseball the team has ever shown in the franchise’s 52-year history. The Padres are currently sitting in second place in the NL West at 33-19, good for the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs.
Of these 52 games that San Diego has played, only three players have played in every game: the two superstars, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, and Trent Grisham. Grisham, who was acquired from Milwaukee in November along with Zach Davies for Luis Urias and Eric Lauer, has been an iron man for San Diego.
The 23-year-old has not missed a game this season and has handled center field in every contest. Tatis Jr. and Machado have spent time at Designated Hitter, making Grisham the only Padre without a full day off so far this season.
Entering the year, Taylor Trammell was expected to be the Friars’ center fielder of the future, but that changed when Grisham played well enough early in the season to show that he is here to stay. Trammell, the former Padres No. 5 prospect, was traded to the Seattle Mariners in a seven-player deal at the MLB Trade Deadline.
That trade opened up the door even more for the young left-handed center fielder. In his second season in the majors, Grisham has posted a slash line of .263/.348/.4764 an OPS of .812, and 51 hits through 52 games.
He has also showcased his power and speed in San Diego, hitting nine home runs and stealing seven bases. Patience has been another strength. Grisham is near the top of the league in at-bats with full counts and has drawn 24 walks this season.
In the series versus the Dodgers this week, Grisham turned some heads when he crushed a Clayton Kershaw fastball into the right-field bleachers. He stood in the box, admired his home run, and chirped at the Dodgers’ dugout while rounding third. The 397-foot home run tied the game in the sixth inning. The series also saw Grisham execute a beautifully placed RBI bunt single and an outstanding diving catch.
With a combination of his bat, glove, and attitude, Grisham’s performance so far has been impressive. Albeit in a shortened campaign, he has been the Padres’ iron man, proving consistency up the middle in a season filled with ups and downs. Grisham has been a great addition to this San Diego Padres team, and if he can continue his recent success, it looks as if the Friars have found their center fielder for years to come.
Bobby is an Arizona State University alum and majored in Sports Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fall 2023. Bobby is from San Diego, loves to write, and has a deep passion for baseball, football and basketball. He has co-hosted the “Devils Talking Padres” podcast and was a digital reporter and photographer for Cronkite News/Arizona PBS. He also broadcasted high school and junior college football games in Arizona as a play-by-play and color commentator.
I think Grisham has played above the level that most expected from him. Being young, he’s made many notice him. Many who might have not paid as close attention had this team not been so good. This young team has a great core of youngsters. This team, if handled correctly and stay away from injuries, will be a team to be reckoned with for many seasons. Most thought (including me) that next year would be our start… they’ve proven us wrong.
We need our farm system to feed additional parts year to year such as Gore, etc. But, it is exciting to know we should have a perennial playoff team for many seasons to come.