Trent Grisham injury creates a major Yankees problem at worst possible time

The New York Yankees lost more than a game Friday night. They might have lost their starting center fielder during the most important portion of the season.

Trent Grisham exited New York’s 3-2, 10-inning loss to the San Diego Padres with a right hamstring injury. Manager Aaron Boone said Grisham aggravated the hamstring while attempting to steal second base before later experiencing difficulty in the outfield.

An MRI is expected to determine whether the Yankees must place him on the injured list.

Yankees cannot easily replace Trent Grisham

Grisham initially remained in the game after the stolen-base attempt. The injury became obvious in the second inning when he limped while trying to reach a fly ball from Xander Bogaerts. The play became an RBI single, and Grisham was replaced before the bottom of the third.

Heliot Ramos entered the lineup, while Spencer Jones moved to center field. The sequence immediately disrupted New York’s defensive alignment and contributed to another damaging loss.

Grisham previously missed time with a strained right hamstring in June. A recurrence involving the same leg increases the reason for caution. Grisham is batting .211 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs across 121 games.

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Not the whole story missing

His average does not tell the entire story.

He provides power, experience in center field and defensive range at a premium position. Replacing those qualities requires more than inserting another bat into the lineup. Jones has the athletic ability to handle center, but moving him affects the rest of the outfield. Ramos can provide offense, although the Yankees must determine whether the revised alignment is dependable enough for important September games.

New York also cannot afford to rush Grisham back. Hamstring injuries can become recurring problems, particularly for an outfielder required to accelerate suddenly and cover significant ground. A premature return could cost him additional time during the postseason.

The Yankees still are waiting for imaging before determining the severity.

The timing already is bad. They lost a close game, watched an important defender leave and now must prepare for the possibility that their outfield will look different during the playoff race.

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