Infielder Vaughn Grissom has endured a tough year, between injuries and poor play. But in the final week of the season, he’s getting a chance to show what he can do in Boston. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images)Diamond Images/Getty Images
Nothing about the 2024 season has gone as planned for Vaughn Grissom.
Acquired from the Atlanta Braves last winter in exchange for Chris Sale, Grissom was projected to be the Red Sox’ second baseman. But groin and hamstring injuries wiped out his spring training and he didn’t make his debut until the first week of May.
When he was finally cleared to play, he underperformed in a big way, slashing .148/.207/.160 in 23 games, after which he suffered yet another groin strain. When he recovered from that, instead of adding him to the active roster, he was optioned to Triple A Worcester. Essentially, the Red Sox wanted him to start from scratch.
At Worcester, in time, Grissom showed progress. Over his last 15 games in September in the minors, Grissom hit .340 while knocking in 12 and scoring 14 runs. That, and an injury to Rob Refsnyder, led to him being recalled by the Sox Friday.
Now, the plan is for him to get some playing time in the final week. He was in the lineup Saturday at second base against Minnesota.
“We’re going to get Vaughn as many games as possible this week,” said Alex Cora. “It will be good. Even yesterday, (as a late-inning replacement), he was moving well to first base. That’s the fastest that I’ve seen him run. He looks stronger. He’s in a good place. I talked to him after the game. I don’t want him to come here to think that he has to show us who he is.
“(We told him) ‘Just keep doing the things that you were doing in Triple A with the structure of your work — pre-game meetings, post-game meetings, defensive work…everything you were doing there with Chad (Tracey, WooSox manager) and the group, we’re going to do it here and we’re going to help you out.’ “
