Vaughn Grissom establishes himself as clear frontrunner for Braves shortstop role
By John Buhler
Vaughn Grissom is running away with the Atlanta Braves’ starting shortstop role already.
It was his job to lose anyway, but barring some unforeseen spring training catastrophe, Vaughn Grissom should be the Atlanta Braves’ starting shortstop come Opening Day.
While the fifth spot in the rotation remains up for grabs after Ian Anderson’s latest unmitigated disaster on the mound, Grissom is hotter than the freaking sun at the plate. He went 3-for-3 with a two-run double in the Braves’ spring training defeat at the Minnesota Twins. With an otherworldly .517 batting average and a 1.214 OPS, Grissom is dominating high school pitching.
Letting Dansby Swanson walk in free agency was controversial, but the move seems justified.
#Braves 5th-starter candidates haven’t exactly roared out of the gate…Meanwhile, I predict Vaughn Grissom (3-for-3 w/ 2-out, 2-run double today) wins shortstop job if he maintains his current .517 avg and 1.214 OPS.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) February 28, 2023
(But seriously, it was his job to lose entering spring IMO.)
As long as Grissom’s glove improves and his bat remains steady, Atlanta could have another star.
#Braves GAME DAY NOW:
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) February 28, 2023
It was a tough day for Ian Anderson as the Twins jumped on him early and beat Atlanta, 10-7. Vaughn Grissom's day was productive and a couple of veteran outfielders contributed as well.
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With four legitimate NL MVP candidates in their starting lineup, the Braves are winning it all, man.
Vaughn Grissom will be the Atlanta Braves’ starting shortstop on Opening Day
Unless he strikes out every plate appearance in March, Grissom will play between Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies in the Atlanta infield. He may have made his Atlanta debut last season at second base after Orlando Arcia pulled a hammy after Albies broke his foot, but Grissom is a middle infielder to his core. He could have been a candidate to play some left field, but let’s stick with shortstop…
And to be frank, if this move works out, then the Braves will have figured out seven of their eight position players in the field. You have Ronald Acuña Jr. in right, fellow Troublemaker Michael Harris II in center, Riley at third, Albies at second, Matt Olson at first and Sean Murphy behind the dish. For Grissom to replace Swanson at short and not skip a beat, let’s start planning another parade.
Second base decimation got him to the big leagues first. His bat kept him up throughout the second half of the year. While his career will go as he performs at the plate, how he develops in the field at short could take it to new heights. If Grissom continues to put in the work with Ron Washington, the Braves will have struck gold with another homegrown talent over at short.
Maybe the money Atlanta saved on Swanson by going with Grissom will go towards Max Fried?
dark. Next. 1 trade every MLB team would like to have back