Vaughn Grissom
Boston Red Sox – No. 5
Second baseman / Shortstop
Born: (2001-01-05) January 5, 2001 (age 23)
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 10, 2022, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.287
Home runs5
Runs batted in27
Teams

Vaughn Anthony Grissom (born January 5, 2001) is an American professional baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Atlanta Braves selected him in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut with them in 2022. The Braves traded Grissom to the Red Sox after the 2023 season.

Amateur career

Grissom attended Paul J. Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Florida, where he and Riley Greene were teammates on the baseball team.[1] As a senior in 2019, he had a .389 batting average and a 0.82 earned run average.[2] He was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft and signed,[3][4] forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Florida International University.[5]

Professional career

Atlanta Braves

Grissom made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves, batting .288 with three home runs and 23 RBIs over 44 games.[6] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the season.[7] He began the 2021 season with the Augusta GreenJackets of the Low-A East,[8][9] and was promoted to the Rome Braves of the High-A East in September.[10][11] Over 87 games between the two teams, he slashed .319/.418/.464 with seven home runs, 43 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.[12] Grissom returned to Rome to begin the 2022 season.[13] In mid-July, he was promoted to the Mississippi Braves of the Double-A Southern League.[14][15] He recorded 91 at-bats in 22 games with Mississippi, hitting .363/.408/.516 prior to receiving a major league call-up.[16][17]

On August 10, 2022, the Braves selected Grissom's contract and promoted him to the major leagues following an injury to Orlando Arcia.[18] He made his MLB debut that night as Atlanta's starting second baseman at Fenway Park versus the Boston Red Sox, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run over the Green Monster off of Darwinzon Hernández and a stolen base.[19][20] At age 21 and seven months, Grissom became the youngest player in either the American League or National League history to homer and steal a base in his major league debut.[17]

Following the departure of Dansby Swanson in free agency, Grissom entered the 2023 regular season with a opportunity to become the Braves' starting shortstop.[21][22] Grissom battled with Arcia and Braden Shewmake for the starting shortstop job during spring training. On March 20, Grissom and Shewmake were optioned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers in favor of Arcia.[23][24]

Boston Red Sox

On December 30, 2023, the Braves traded Grissom to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Chris Sale and cash considerations.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ Torres, Maria (March 28, 2022). "Braves prospect Vaughn Grissom is climbing fast. How can he pick up even more steam?". The Athletic. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Carnahan, J. C. (June 7, 2019). "Seminole High's Matt Allan leads Sentinel baseball all-area teams". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Bowman, Mark (August 25, 2022). "Truist of Braves: Grissom did NOT want to be drafted by Mets". MLB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2022. Alternate URL
  4. ^ Bowman, Mark (June 15, 2019). "Shrewd moves make room for high-upside picks". MLB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  5. ^ Carnahan, J. C. (April 10, 2019). "Baseball prospects Riley Greene, Dylan Crews headline Hagerty vs. Lake Mary". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Burns, Gabe (May 3, 2021). "Vaughn Grissom Shines At Alternate Site". Baseball America. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  7. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  8. ^ Cheney, Will (May 4, 2021). "Augusta GreenJackets announce 2021 Opening Day roster. Here's five players to watch". Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  9. ^ Burns, Gabriel. "Around the Braves' farm system: Who's trending upward". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  10. ^ "Strong Pitching Fuels Offense in 5-0 Shutout". MILB.com. September 2, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "Late Game Offense Nets Comeback Win for RBraves". MILB.com. September 3, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Langeliers, Elder leading Braves' new wave".
  13. ^ "2022 Rome Braves Opening Day Roster Released". MILB.com. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022. Republished as: "Rome Braves release opening day roster". Rome News-Tribune. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "Several Rome players promoted to Mississippi". Rome News Tribune. July 12, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  15. ^ Harris, Chris (July 18, 2022). "Vaughn Grissom and Jared Shuster named Farm Bureau Player and Pitcher of the Week". MILB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  16. ^ Toscano, Justin (August 10, 2022). "'All my childhood dreams came true': Braves call up top prospect Vaughn Grissom". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Burkhardt, Molly (August 10, 2022). "Grissom makes history with HR, steal in debut". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "Atlanta Braves call up top prospect Vaughn Grissom to majors with Orlando Arcia put on IL". ESPN.com. August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  19. ^ "Atlanta Braves prospect Vaughn Grissom homers, 'seemed like a kid on the playground' in debut". ESPN.com. August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  20. ^ Toscano, Justin (August 10, 2022). "Braves' top prospect Vaughn Grissom homers, impresses in first major-league game". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Toscano, Justin (January 23, 2023). "Braves haven't anointed Vaughn Grissom, but they believe in him". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  22. ^ Haddad, C. J. (March 11, 2023). "Childhood friends Greene, Grissom 'living out our dreams'". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  23. ^ Bowman, Mark (March 20, 2023). "Pair of moves clear way for Arcia's nod at SS". MLB.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "Braves option Grissom to minors, clearing Arcia to start at SS". ESPN.com. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  25. ^ Bowman, Mark (December 30, 2023). "Braves add veteran Sale in deal with Red Sox". MLB.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  26. ^ Passan, Jeff (December 30, 2023). "Braves acquire Chris Sale, cash from Red Sox for Vaughn Grissom". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.

External links

Boston Red Sox current roster
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