After missing over two months due to injury, Boston Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom was reinstated from the 10-Day injured list on Thursday and optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Grissom had been on a rehab assignment with the Worcester Red Sox before being activated and sent back. The 23-year-old entered 2024 with a chance to be Boston’s starting second baseman. Injuries and struggles have held Grissom back from achieving that.
Red Sox Reinstate Vaughn Grissom And Send Him To Minor Leagues
Grissom was the biggest piece in a deal that sent former Red Sox starter Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves in December. The infielder began the year on the injured list, though, with a left hamstring strain. He missed over 30 games before making his season debut. Grissom lasted just a month before straining his right hamstring on June 2. He struggled with Boston, batting just .148 with a .367 OPS in 23 contests.
Grissom continued to struggle during his rehab assignment, slashing .216/.310/.294 in 13 matchups. He began his professional career with the Braves and ranked as high as seventh in the organization’s system in 2022. Grissom dominated in the minors before making his MLB debut in August of 2022. He originally played well, batting .291 in 41 games. That somewhat spilled over into 2023, where Grissom hit for a .280 average, but he saw his OPS drop dramatically. The Florida native played just 64 games for Atlanta before being shipped to the Red Sox.
In Grissom’s absence from the big league roster, Emmanuel Valdez, David Hamilton, and Romy Gonzalez have split time at second base. The position has been Boston’s weakest in 2024. Red Sox batters, when playing second, have just a .551 OPS this season. That’s the worst mark on the team by far, with first base (.719) the closest. Boston made multiple moves at the deadline, but none addressed the middle infield position. Catcher Danny Jansen, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays, was the only offensive player the Red Sox brought in.
Main Photo Credits: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
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