I’ve seen some prolific cleanup hitters in my time. Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell, Mike Schmidt, Harmon Killebrew, and Jim Thome come to mind first. None hit better than .282 lifetime. Each tallied high strikeout and home run totals. Each man was enshrined in baseball’s Hall of Fame following a remarkable career.
Didi Gregorius doesn’t fit the stereotype. He isn’t a stocky power hitter with a gargantuan swing that elicits oohs and aahs from the crowd on strikeouts. Yet, Sir Didi stands as the perfect number-four hitter for this Yankees team.
With a pair of terrifying hitters batting ahead of him in the order, Siri Didi comes to the plate often with men on base.