Vaughn Grissom’s main competition emerging in a huge way at AAA

Braden Shewmake is using his bat to make things interesting as Vaughn Grissom’s main competition within the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affliate.

Watch Atlanta Braves top prospect Braden Shewmake go yard in walk-off fashion for Gwinnett.

Shewmake connected on a three-run bomb to right center to lift the Gwinnett Stripers past the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 8-5 on opening night for them. Although he was not expected to make the Braves’ Opening Day roster, Shewmake nearly forced skipper Brian Snitker’s hand. He pushed Vaughn Grissom to be even better, despite Atlanta’s starting shortstop job going to Orlando Arcia.

No matter what becomes of Grissom down in the minor leagues, the Braves seem to have yet another gem of a prospect in Shewmake. His ETA for making the Atlanta club will be this season.

This big fly is a big reason why the Braves are absolutely going to win the World Series this year.

Braden Shewmake responds to the Atlanta Braves’ ongoing shortstop race

Even though the Atlanta brass really likes Arcia, and gave him a three-year contract right before Opening Day, the Braves are far from being totally set at shortstop, as well as in left field for that matter. Grissom may have delivered in a big way once he was first called up last year, but his bat cooled off down the stretch. Needing to develop his glove, he will spend some time in Triple-A.

Where Shewmake presents an interesting case in all this is it might come down to one of these three guys in the end. It is Arcia’s job for now. Grissom nearly won it and Shewmake has played out of his mind this spring to force the conversation we are having. Although all three are not going to play for the Braves at the same time at the big-league level, the team will figure it out.

While Arcia’s extension created another wrinkle, the Braves not only have depth at key middle infield spots, but actually seem to have trade bait if they need to upgrade another position group down the stretch for a possible pennant run. Keep in mind that rookies Michael Harris II, Spencer Strider, and Grissom to some extent, played a big part in the Braves winning the NL East yet again.

As long as the Braves avoid complacency and entitlement in the clubhouse, they will stay a power.