In exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom on Saturday, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made his second major trade of the offseason. Sale was dealt to the Atlanta Braves as a starting pitcher.
Grissom fielded most of the time at shortstop this past season, but he will probably play second base for Boston in 2024.
The following five facts regarding the new Boston second baseman should be known:
In his MLB debut at Fenway Park, Grissom hit his first home run of the season.
The newcomer to the area is no stranger to the art of winning in front of Red Sox supporters.
On August 10, 2022, at Fenway Park, Grissom made his major league debut. Off Darwinzon Hernandez, he launched a 432-foot, two-run home run that cleared the Green Monster in the seventh inning.
After the occurrence, the right-handed hitter appropriately flipped his bat, leaving his mark on Boston at the age of just 21.
“I suppose that was a “We made it” moment,” Grissom remarked after the game. “Like a sense of accomplishment.”
In his first-ever major league game, the infielder created history.
In his first MLB game, Grissom not only stole a base but also hit a home run.
In the ninth inning, he doubled and then swiped second base. By achieving this, Grissom created history by becoming the youngest player to ever hit a home run and record a steal in their major league debut.
The Braves’ minor league system’s top prospect at the time became just the 11th player to reach that milestone.
Prior to being called up in 2022, Grissom was not a Triple-A player.
Grissom hadn’t even reached the top developmental level before being called up, but you wouldn’t have known it based on his historic first major league game.
He never got the chance to play in Triple-A since Atlanta promoted him to the major leagues.
Brian Snitker, Grissom’s manager at the time, was pleased with the player’s historic debut against the Red Sox.
After the game, Snitker stated, “He just seemed like a kid on the playground, pretty much just having a ball.” It’s sincere. That guy simply enjoys playing baseball a lot. He completed everything. He performed admirably. Nothing worried him. That strength is genuine.
The date of his 23rd birthday is January 5, 2024.
Sale, 34, was acquired by Boston for an exceptionally youthful athlete. Grissom is just 22 years old, and on January 5th, she will turn 23.
His youthful age is a result of his decision to sign after being selected by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB draft. Grissom had initially committed to Florida International University to play baseball in college.
Having spent several years in minor and major league baseball, he did not play collegiate ball after high school.