It was the second bold promotion that Alex Anthopoulos has executed this season, Michael Harris’ stunning call to Atlanta being the first. It worked out once, so why not try it again?
The Braves are in an unfortunate position. Ozzie Albies has been out since June and won’t be back until some point in September, and now it looks like Arcia could be lost for the season. The only other middle infielder on the roster is Ehire Adrianza, who is not a starting caliber option, and the trade deadline just passed. Anthopoulos’ hands are tied, so he went with the player with the most upside in Vaughn Grissom.
Grissom has been a menace in Mississippi, hitting to the tune of a .924 OPS in 22 games. The 21-year-old has also blasted three homers and swiped seven bags.
Expectations
Michael Harris and Spencer Strider have set the bar high. It may be unrealistic for Vaughn Grissom to perform as well as those two have; however, I believe he will become a significant contributor rather quickly. His speed, instincts, and low strikeout rate are transferable to the big leagues, and his athleticism should allow him to play all over the diamond, not just the infield. So when Ozzie Albies eventually returns, there might still be a spot for Grissom on the 26-man roster.
The Braves are in desperate need of another outfielder/DH. Marcell Ozuna is a black hole in the lineup, and so far, Eddie Rosario and Robbie Grossman haven’t been much better. Grissom’s natural instincts for the game could allow him to play some left field, so if he contributes enough offensively, expect the Braves to give him a shot out there, especially if Ozuna continues to be an offensive zero.
This would also allow the front office to see what they have in Grissom. A lot of difficult decisions will have to be made this winter. I don’t expect the Braves to move off Dansby Swanson; however, they will likely reshuffle their outfield. This opportunity could be an extended tryout for Grissom to see if he can be a part of the major-league club’s plans next season as well.
Whether it’s at shortstop, second base, DH, or the outfield, I believe that Vaughn Grissom has the skills and moxy to stay on this team long term.
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