Paul Goldschmidt, in his inaugural season with the New York Yankees, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, reminiscent of his peak years. The former St. Louis Cardinals star is slashing an impressive .347/.404/.495 through 55 games, with five home runs, 27 RBIs, four stolen bases, 13 doubles, one triple, and 37 runs scored. His 1.8 wins above replacement (WAR) already surpasses the 1.3 WAR he posted in his final season with the Cardinals, signaling a dramatic turnaround.
Contrast this with his performance in the first 55 games of last season in St. Louis, where Goldschmidt struggled, hitting just .221/.305/.356 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, 29 runs scored, and seven doubles. The difference is stark, prompting questions about what has fueled this revival in New York.
In an interview with YES Network, Goldschmidt was asked about the key to his turnaround. “That’s a good question. I don’t really have an answer,” he admitted. “I don’t really think about it too much. I just try to have a good at-bat… I’m a pretty simple hitter. I just wasn’t consistently doing that last year.” Reflecting on his struggles in St. Louis, he added, “I was very honest with a lot of the media in St. Louis and anyone else who asked that. I was just not performing well, but I think the good part of that is I was able to learn from it and make those adjustments and be ready to go this year.”
Goldschmidt’s candidness highlights his approach: simplicity and adaptability. While he doesn’t pinpoint a specific “forbidden trick,” his focus on refining his at-bats and learning from last year’s shortcomings has clearly paid dividends. The Yankees’ environment seems to have provided the perfect backdrop for Goldschmidt to rediscover his form, and the results speak for themselves.
A beloved figure in St. Louis, Goldschmidt’s success in New York is a boon for baseball fans everywhere. The sport shines brighter when a player of his caliber is at his best, and right now, Goldschmidt is proving just that in the Bronx.