Ex-Yank Meulens helped out Gregorius

When Didi Gregorius was traded to the Yankees, former Yank and current Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens gave the young shortstop some advice.

Keep working, keep your head in and seek out teammates such as Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez.

Meulens, the first major leaguer from Curaçao, who works with players from his country in the offseason, said the first and most obvious adjustment for Gregorius, also a Curaçaoan , would be learning to hit lefties.

“[The Giants] had Beltran for half a year in 2011, and that’s a quality, quality human being, a guy who likes to help,” Meulens said. “When Didi got traded [to the Yankees], I said, ‘Make sure you grab onto those guys. Beltran, A-Rod, guys who have hit all their lives. Make sure you have them help you.’ Sometimes guys are proud, and they don’t want help.”

But Gregorius sought help and got it. This season, he is hitting .366 against lefties, the best mark by a lefthanded hitter in the majors.

“I said, ‘There’s no going down for you because you are so low, all you can do is go up,’ ” Meulens said.

Gregorius’ effort against lefties going into the Yankees’ 3-2 win over the Giants at Yankee Stadium on Friday was eons removed from past years. He hit .247 against lefties last season, .137 in 2014 and .200 in 2013. Gregorius rightfully is proud of his advancements.

“I just look at it as a whole thing. It’s not just about against lefties. I look at it as offensively and defensively. I’m not just one type of player,” said Gregorius, who has participated in the offseason workouts in his native Curaçao for several years. “[Meulens] is a hitting coach here in the states, and we all practice in the field, and whenever he can, he comes down and practices with us.”

Gregorius was not in the starting lineup for the Yankees’ 3-2 win over the Giants, though he entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning.

“I felt Didi could use a day [off], physically. He’s been going extremely hard for us,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It will probably be his last day [off] for a while.”