Didi Gregorius ended last year’s ALDS with a torn UCL that required surgery.

He entered this one against the Twins mired in an ugly slump.

Nevertheless, Yankees manager Aaron Boone went into Game 1 on Friday night in The Bronx believing the playoff intensity and atmosphere would benefit the shortstop.

“I just feel like he’s one of those guys that the bigger the stage, the brighter the lights, I feel like he thrives in that,’’ Boone said before the series opener, in which Gregorius hit eighth. “I feel like he’s been healthy now for a while and I feel like he’s a guy that [if he] has a good at-bat or two here, I think that’s something that can really propel him moving forward.”

Gregorius, in his third straight postseason appearance with the Yankees, has had a fair amount of success in October, but this has been a different kind of season for him following the elbow injury he suffered making a throw in Boston nearly a year ago.

After missing much of the first half this year while rehabbing from offseason Tommy John surgery, Gregorius came back in June and showed flashes of his old form, but much of his season was unproductive.

Gregorius closed the regular season with just two hits in his final 22 at-bats, with a walk and five strikeouts during a six-game stretch.

He has pulled more balls this year than usual, and has become more susceptible to hitting into the shift, but Gregorius insisted as the Yankees headed into the postseason that he was ready to go.

“I’m just focused on the playoffs right now and not worrying about anything else,’’ the shortstop said. “I just want to play my role and do what I can to help the team and I think I can do that.’’

He has recovered from the elbow surgery, but he also has been bothered by a finger injury and then suffered a right shoulder contusion when he was drilled by a Clayton Kershaw pitch against the Dodgers in August.

“I think the biggest thing with Didi is obviously returning in a timely fashion like he was able to do from Tommy John, probably getting back a little earlier than some people expected,’’ Boone said. “But I think then having a couple of bumps along the way, as far as things he had to play through with the finger and then the shoulder, that kind of altered his season a little bit. [They were] things he was able to play through, but probably kept him from getting on one of those hot streaks that he’s kind of been known for. But I do feel like he’s been healthy now for a while and still feel like his best baseball is ahead of him.”

If that doesn’t happen soon, it may be too late.

“It’s just good to be back in the playoffs, no matter how I’m doing personally,’’ Gregorius said. “I feel good and I think it’s time to get going.’’