Vaughn Grissom looking for redemption in second season with Red Sox
For Vaughn Grissom, nothing went as planned last season. After being traded to the Red Sox for Chris Sale, the Orlando native battled injuries. He was limited to 31 games in the majors and never looked like the player who tore up Triple-A pitching. Grissom will be looking to stake his claim on the second base job now that he is healthy.
Before joining the Red Sox, Grissom got limited time in the majors during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. In 64 games with the Braves, the former 11th-round pick posted a .287 batting average while driving in 27 runs. He also showed a little power with 15 fifteen extra-base hits.
While it was only a small sample size, it was in line with what Grissom did as he moved through the Braves system. In 384 games in the minors, including 50 in Worcester last year, he has posted a .312 batting average. Regardless of the level, Grissom always found a way to get on base.
With the 2025 campaign only weeks away, Grissom is about to enter one of the biggest seasons of his career. The Red Sox have been tied to free agent Alex Bregman all offseason, but he remains unsigned. They also have a prospect in Kristian Campbell, who has the potential to be a future star. He earned an invite to spring training and will be battling for a spot on the roster.
Over the next few weeks, the key for Grissom will be showing that he can replicate the success he had at the plate with the Braves. While Campbell was named the Minor League Player of the Year last season, he has never faced major league pitching, which could give Grissom a legs up.
In his first season with the Red Sox, Grissom struck out 24 times and showed very little power. He also saw his strikeout rate in the minors skyrocket before going on a three-week tear in September. If he can be that player again, but at the major league level, he will often hear his name called during the regular season.
Grissom hit everywhere he's been prior to last season, when he was struggling for health and most likely "trying too hard" to impress. Once he got healthy, and just relaxed, he did quite well. I believe the biggest reason the Front Office hasn't made a move for a RH bat is b/c they don't want to block Grissom & Kristian Campbell. If one or both of those two have a solid season, or even "Break Out", this team should be up around 90 wins (health permitting).