A line from one of Frank Sinatra’s classic tunes fittingly describes the first seven weeks of the season for Didi Gregorius: “Riding high in April, shot down in May.”
The Yankees’ shortstop resembled a legitimate American League MVP candidate in his first 28 games, as he slashed .327/.421/.735 with 10 home runs and a league-high 30 RBI. Gregorius instantly became a mainstay in the middle of the team’s batting order, and his performance at the plate and in the field earned him AL Player of the Month honors in April.
But when the calendar turned to May, Gregorius’ torrid hitting pace disappeared.