Didi Gregorius

Mariekson Julius Gregorius, born on February 18, 1990, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, began his baseball career after his family moved to Curaçao at age five. He was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent in 2007, marking the start of his professional journey in the United States. His early minor league years saw him develop his skills, progressing through various levels including Rookie League, Single-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. A significant challenge arose in 2011 when a chronic kidney malfunction interrupted his season, but he returned to play after two months of recovery and lifestyle adjustments. Gregorius made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cincinnati Reds on September 5, 2012.

In 2012, Gregorius was part of a three-team trade that sent him to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent two seasons with the Diamondbacks, making his presence felt with his first major league home run on April 18, 2013. In December 2014, Gregorius was traded to the New York Yankees, where he took over the shortstop position after Derek Jeter’s retirement. During his five seasons with the Yankees (2015-2019), he significantly improved his batting performance, hitting 20 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2018. He broke Derek Jeter’s single-season home run record for a Yankees shortstop in 2017. His tenure with the Yankees included notable postseason performances, such as a game-tying three-run home run in the 2017 American League Wild Card Game and a postseason grand slam in the 2019 ALDS.

After becoming a free agent, Gregorius signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in December 2019. His time with the Phillies was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and health issues, including a battle with pseudogout, leading to a career-low batting average in 2021. He was released by the Phillies in August 2022. Following his MLB career, Gregorius signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League in May 2023, where he demonstrated strong offensive numbers. He also signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in June 2023 but opted out in August. He has represented the Netherlands national baseball team in various international tournaments, earning honorary knighthood after winning the 2011 Baseball World Cup and being named MVP of the 2025 European Championship.