TAMPA -- Didi Gregorius has been here longer than most Yankees position players. The shortstop showed up about a week early to spring training, swinging and taking grounders at the team's training complex while pitchers and catchers started formal workouts.
"I'm ready to swing at the first pitch," Gregorius told teammates leading up to Friday's 9-4 win over the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
He did. And the mighty cut gave weight to manager Joe Girardi's theory that Gregorius' newfound power was no fluke.
Gregorius ripped a solo shot off Philadelphia starter Alec Asher's first pitch with one out in the first inning Friday.