Didi Gregorius got his work ethic from his parents, Johannes Sr. and Sheritsa Stroop, standout ballplayers in their own right.
"There's never a satisfaction," Gregorius, who has gotten off to a blazing start this season, said on Tuesday. "There's always room to get better. That's what they told me. Why try to slack off when you can work hard and get better? That's what they tell me every day."
Gregorius continues to get better every day, transforming himself into one of the best shortstops in baseball — MLB Network's "Shredder" rankings be damned.
Whether he'll be a Yankee for the next several years, though, remains a question.
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Gregorius, 28, can be a free agent after the 2019 campaign, and the Bombers could pursue Manny Machado, who now plays the same position as Didi and is younger, this offseason. That could mean Gregorius having to change positions or perhaps being dealt for pitching or more youngsters.
Of course, it could also mean Didi manning short between youngsters Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar for a long time as well - if the Yankees decide to stick with what they've got rather than shelling out $30-40 million a year for Machado.
Didi Gregorius has emerged as an elite shortstop, but he is still looking for ways to improve. (Kathy Willens/AP)
On that front, it's wait and see. For Brian Cashman, it's a good problem to have.
"If they sign me here, then yes (I'd love to stay)," Gregorius said. "If they don't sign me, then there's nothing I can do. I don't care about the future. I'm just focused on the right now, because I can't control the future."
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In the now, Gregorius leads the majors in slugging percentage and is on-pace for an insane 185 RBIs. He's exceeded expectations after replacing future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter. Those boos he heard in April 2015 are ancient history now, replaced by chants of "Di-di! Di-di!"
The scouting community always loved his toolset. But he's proven to be more than just a plus defender, hitting both righties and lefties and now becoming more disciplined in the box, already having drawn 15 walks — 22 shy of his career-high. His line-drive swing may really be tailor-made for Yankee Stadium and its short right-field porch.
"He had to replace a legend," one Yankee person said. "His mental makeup must just be extraordinary. He can make a bad play early in a game and then come up with a big hit later on."
Lately, Didi Gregorius has been inserted into the No. 3 hole to separate Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. (Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports)
Gregorius moved into the cleanup spot and shined in 2017. And with Greg Bird out, he currently bats in the No. 3 hole between Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the lethal lefty splitting up the righty mashers. Already, Didi has collected seven homers, 24 RBIs and a 1.175 OPS.
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"I'm not looking at those numbers and all that stuff," said Didi, who finished with 25 homers and 87 RBIs a year ago despite missing a large chunk of time early due to injury. "It's what I do right now for the team, and that's all I can do. Worry about that day. Worry about that at-bat. Just focus on that."
MLB Network's "Shredder" — a data-driven system — ranked him outside of baseball's top-10 shortstops. The three-run homer if the AL wild-card game and the two homers of Corey Kluber in Game 5 of the ALDS apparently weren't enough for the metrics.
"I didn't say I wasn't happy with that," Gregorius said. "I said I didn't care. No matter what I do, it's not about people ranking me. It's about what I can do for my team."
Didi feels the same way about making his first All-Star team in a loaded AL with shortstops like Machado, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and others.
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Manny Machado could tempt the Yankees, but only if they decide not to retain Didi Gregorius for years to come. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
"I'm playing for my team. If I make it one time, then I make it one time. What can I say?" Gregorius said. "It's not up to me."
His modesty aside, the Yankees are just glad he's on their side — a leader on the infield owning the strike zone, as well as opposing pitchers, then firing away emojis on Twitter after wins.
"What's stood out to me is how much he loves to play. He's tough," Aaron Boone said. "I think he's a little banged up, but he just plays and I think in a kind of understated way he just really understands the league and what pitchers are trying to do to him.
"I think he's just grown year by and year. Controlling the strike zone has been his next step, and he continues to be a really, really good player for us."
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But for Didi Gregorius, the work never stops.
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