Yankees sign 212-HR outfielder who was drafted 1 pick before Mike Trout

The New York Yankees have a lot of left-handed bats, but they've signed a righty to try and balance that out.

According to YES Network's Jack Curry, the Yanks have brought aboard the outfielder Randal Grichuk as a non-roster invite to Spring Training.

Grichuk has one amusing claim to fame: The Los Angeles Angels picked him exactly one choice before they also took Mike Trout (picks 24 and 25) in the 2009 MLB Draft.

He's also been a solid hitter for a long time, with 212 career home runs.

He has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals.

Grichuk split the 2025 season between the Diamondbacks and Royals, and overall hit .228 with nine homers in 113 games.

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He's certainly not the player he once was, but Grichuk can still hit the ball out of the ballpark.

The Yankees have lefty-hitting outfielders Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger. The potential depth is switch-hitter Jasson Dominguez, who hits much worse against left-handed pitching.

Even power-hitting prospect Spencer Jones is a left-handed bat.

Grichuk can make the case for a roster spot to join the likes of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup on days that a southpaw is on the bump.

If Grichuk doesn't prove good enough, it's not much skin off the Yankees' back for trying this move.

And if Grichuk still has enough left in the tank, the Yankees got a useful player for essentially nothing.

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