For the first month of the season, Didi Gregorius was hailed as a potential candidate for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He had 10 home runs, eight doubles and was drawing favorable comparisons to his beloved predecessor, Derek Jeter.
Then came the slump. He hit only one home run in May, and from the beginning of that month through Sunday, Gregorius was batting only .177, with a dismal .226 slugging percentage. Even as his numbers plummeted, Gregorius said, he did not despair.
“No, I was just getting to know myself through that slump,” he said.