Newly-acquired Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom has battled hamstring problems all season. (Photo by … [+] Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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When the Boston Red Sox landed Vaughn Grissom from the Atlanta Braves last winter, they thought they were filling a gaping hole at second base. But not so fast.
Grissom strained a hamstring early in spring training, missed more than a month, and played only 23 games before pulling a hamstring again.
This time, according to Boston manager Alex Cora, the hamstring pull is of the milder variety. But the infielder will still need to be placed on the 10-day injured list to let it calm down.
The injury occurred when Grissom was running out a ground ball. Fortunately for him, he hurt his right hamstring rather than his left, which he strained in Fort Myers three months ago. That should help him recover more quickly.
Still, Grissom’s absence compounds the felony for the Fenway faithful.
Not only has Grissom performed poorly when playing but the player sent away to acquire him – veteran left-handed starter Chris Sale – has become one of the National League’s best pitchers.
The 6-2, 210-pound Grissom hit .291 as a rookie for the Braves in 2022, with his first major-league home run actually over the Green Monster in Fenway Park, but has been on steady decline since.
This year, he managed only a .159 batting average and .209 on-base percentage with only one extra-base hit – a double – in 86 plate appearances.
Boston traded seven-time All-Star pitcher Chris Sale for promising infielder Vaughn Grissom but has … [+] not had good return on investment. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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A bat-first infielder, Grissom has never been considered a defensive stalwart at either shortstop or second base.
After the Braves let long-time shortstop Dansby Swanson ride free agency to the Chicago Cubs, Grissom was practically annointed his successor – before journeyman Orlando Arcia, a far better fielder, beat him out during 2023 spring training.
With both Arcia and second baseman Ozzie Albies on the National League All-Star team last year, Grissom was blocked in Atlanta and became the team’s top trade chip.
His advantages of age (23) and low salary ($742,000) did not protect him against injury, however.
Grissom’s struggles underline a key deficiency in the Red Sox defense, since shortstop Trevor Story is out for the season after suffering a significant shoulder injury.
Candidates to replace Grissom include versatile rookie Ceddanne Rafaela, used mainly as an outfielder this season, and holdovers Enmanuel Valdez and David Hamilton, who also lack experience.
The Sox entered play Saturday with a 30-29 record, third in an American League Eastern Division race dominated by the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles but 10 games out of first place.
Boston had matching 78-84 records in each of the last two seasons, worst in the five-team division both times. They have finished in the cellar three times in the last four seasons.
That does not sit well with fans spoiled when the Sox won four world championships between 2004 and 2018.
Highly-respected manager Alex Cora, who led the team to its last world title, is in the last year of his contract and could leave for greener pastures after the season. There has already been a major change in the front office, with Craig Breslow replacing Chaim Bloom as chief baseball officer on Oct. 25, 2023.
Although the Boston payroll of $186,350,475 ranks 12th in the majors, Grissom’s return to the injured list, along with other player problems, have interfered with the club’s efforts to contend for the playoffs again.
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