Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Justin Toscano

Braves call up top prospect Vaughn Grissom

BOSTON — Under president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves have not been shy about running top prospects up to the major leagues. The Braves don’t follow a strict formula for prospects’ journeys in the minors but live by this: If someone is ready to help, then he’ll be in the bigs.

The team Wednesday called up 21-year-old Vaughn Grissom, their top prospect after recent promotions, for his MLB debut. He’s a shortstop, but they need him to play second base after Orlando Arcia landed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.

Grissom took only 91 at-bats over 22 games at Double-A — less time at that level than even Michael Harris, who had 174 — but he made the most of them. He hit .363 with a .924 OPS. He hit three doubles, a triple and three homers while driving in 12 runs.

Grissom began the year at High-A Rome, where he hit .312 with an .891 OPS over 298 at-bats before the promotion. He had 17 doubles, a triple, 11 homers and 55 RBIs.

The Braves selected Grissom in the 11th round of the MLB draft in 2019 out of Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Fla.

The Braves needed a second baseman after Arcia sustained the left hamstring strain during his sprint from home to second on a 10th-inning double in Tuesday’s win over the Red Sox. The Braves have Ehire Adrianza but needed to make a move for infield depth regardless. The Braves have been without Ozzie Albies, who is out with a fractured foot, since June.

The question became: Would Anthopoulos add a depth piece or would he try to fill the position with a more talented presence until Albies returns? Albies is expected back before season’s end.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.