The Braves, requiring infield reinforcements with Ozzie Albies now sidelined, recalled Vaughn Grissom from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday morning.
Albies injured his hamstring Sunday in New York and was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Nicky Lopez, who started at second base Monday, had three hits and three RBIs in the Braves’ win over the Yankees. Now the team has Grissom has another infield option.
This is the latest major-league opportunity for Grissom, 22. He competed for the team’s shortstop job in spring training, losing to veteran Orlando Arcia, who ended up an All-Star starter. When Arcia was injured, Grissom returned to the majors but struggled in the field (including six errors in 19 games). He hit .277 with a .622 OPS in his first major-league stint this season.
“It’s cool (the Braves) have confidence in me,” Grissom said. “I just have to take care of my job and do what’s asked.”
Grissom has since been at Triple-A, where he’s excelled at the plate. He’s hit .327/.412/.494 with 32 doubles, six homers and 50 RBIs in 88 games. He’s also stolen 11 bases.
“I think he’s making progress in his game,” manager Brian Snitker said. “Which is what they do when you send them back and put them in the minor leagues. It’s like everybody else we’ve ever sent back. They had extended time there; they’ve all got better. He’s no exception. And he’s swinging the bat really, really well.”
Snitker said he didn’t know whether Grissom would get the majority of starts at second base (Lopez started Tuesday). Snitker noted Grissom has had a full season’s worth of at-bats already, so that makes it easier to include him on the major-league roster without necessarily worrying about playing time. Grissom had 346 minor-league at-bats along with 65 at-bats in the majors.
Grissom played 41 games with the Braves during the 2022 season, batting .291 with five home runs and 18 RBIs. Grissom had a memorable MLB debut, homering for his first major-league hit in an 8-4 win at Fenway Park over the Red Sox in August last year.
“That’s what I take pride in, hitting,” Grissom said. “It’s good it’s showed up for a little while (in Triple-A) and (hopefully) I can keep it going.”
Williams up, Wall optioned
The Braves also optioned outfielder Forrest Wall and recalled outfielder Lucas Williams. The well-traveled Williams has spent time with the Phillies, Giants, Marlins, Dodgers and Braves over the past three seasons. He went 1-for-10 across four games with the Dodgers in April. Snitker cited Williams’ versatility as an asset.
“He’s played a lot of outfield, infield,” Snitker said. “He can run. ... He’s been doing really well in Gwinnett. ... He can play all over the infield, outfield. He has speed. Something happens, we use Vaughn for a reason, Nicky, something like that, you’re not going bare without another infielder. And he gives you the luxury of being able to go to the outfield also. Pinch-run, do the whole thing.”
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