Red Sox infielder adds 20 pounds of muscle; faces competition for second base starting job
The Red Sox could add to the mix at second base before Opening Day. Boston remains interested and engaged with free agent Alex Bregman, who is willing to move to second base when he signs with a new team.
If Bregman doesn’t join the Red Sox, the team expects there to be competition for the starting job during camp. One player in the mix for the job is infielder Vaughn Grissom.
The 24-year-old looks noticeably different as he comes into camp, adding 20 pounds of muscle to his frame.
“Vaughn will be the first one to kind of sit up here and say that last year was a struggle and lost season in a lot of ways for him,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday at JetBlue Park. “But we’re really optimistic about his ability to bounce back. He worked really hard this offseason. He looks great. He’s added about 20 pounds.”
Grissom’s first season in the Red Sox organization was littered with hamstring injuries and time on the IL, followed by getting the flu and losing weight and finishing the season with the WooSox. He finished the season in the bigs, batting .190/.246/.219 with 24 strikeouts over 31 games. The Florida native was better for the WooSox, batting .259 with six homers, four doubles, 34 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 55 games.
The former Braves top prospect will be joined by Kristian Campbell, David Hamilton, and Marcelo Mayer as potential candidates to win the second base job.
“I think the situation is a little bit different for each of the guys that will be getting reps at second base,” Breslow said. “We saw at times Hammy was able to be this really dynamic player on both sides of the ball and added an element of speed and athleticism that was a real weapon.”
While the Red Sox are considering Hamilton for the starting second base job, he might be better suited in a utility player role and as a bench option for manager Alex Cora.
Based on the way the Red Sox have constructed their roster offensively this offseason, it feels like Campbell has a chance to break camp with the big league team. Cora told reporters at Fenway Fest in January that Campbell would see “lots of reps” at second base during spring training.
“He’ll get a lot of reps at second base,” Cora said. The Red Sox are also expected to have Campbell see time at other spots on the diamond, including the outfield.
Breslow is excited for the younger players to see time with the Major League club, with Campbell, Mayer, and Roman Anthony knocking on the door.
“We’re excited about what the young guys are able to do in camp and the way that they’re able to acclimate themselves to a big league environment,” Breslow said. “Kristian will get some reps at second base, and I’m sure we’re going to move Marcelo around. And I think given the importance we’ve placed on the present and winning in 2025, we’ll take the 26 guys on our Opening Day roster that we believe are going to best help us win games this year.”
Mayer, who has yet to make his Triple-A debut after he was shut down with a lumbar injury that ended his 2024 campaign, will see time at multiple different infield positions. The Red Sox want to make his path to the majors easier and develop him to become more versatile once he arrives.
While at Fenway Fest, it was reported Mayer could see time in the outfield, specifically left field. Breslow wants to keep Mayer in the infield to begin camp.
When Breslow was asked if Mayer also will receive reps in left field, he said, “At this point, probably just in the infield. First big league camp, wanting to try to maintain some level of familiarity, but we’re very excited about what a number of those new guys are going to bring and want to ensure this camp is not just productive for us in terms of getting a chance to see them work but for them in terms of the exposure they are going to get to a big league environment.”
Other options to play second base this season are Romy González and non-roster invites Nate Eaton and Abraham Toro.
