Article: Make or Break Players on the 2025 Red Sox: Vaughn Grissom

[Nick John]

Vaughn Grissom was previously a top prospect with the Braves, having been ranked as high as seventh in Atlanta's organization. If he reaches his potential, Grissom could be a key piece to the Red Sox lineup for 2025.

Two days before the year of 2024 was ushered in, the Red Sox made a surprising trade as they shipped Chris Sale off to Atlanta. In return, they acquired a former top prospect in Vaughn Grissom. Grissom had played in parts of two seasons with the Braves where he slashed .287/.339/.407 across 64 games split between second base and shortstop. Fast forward to 2025, and now there are questions if Grissom will even break camp with the major league club due to the likes of Alex Bregman and Kristian Campbell both ahead of him on the depth chart. Grissom fell short of expectations in 2024, and if he wants to play in Boston this season, he’ll have to prove last year was lost from injuries.

What Went Wrong in 2024?
The easy answer is injuries. Grissom started the year hurt, suffering a left hamstring strain during spring training that delayed his availability for the start of the season. The injury bug continued to affect Grissom throughout the season, as he would end up coming down with the flu right before he was to be activated. His bout with the flu was so bad that manager Alex Cora stated that Grissom lost 14 pounds from being sick.

Once recovered from the flu, Grissom finally got his shot in Boston as he was activated from the Injured List on May 3, 2024,  though his time in Boston was short lived as he would exit the game on June 1 following a groundout. It was revealed that he strained his hamstring, this time the right hamstring. In 22 games played prior to the injury. Grissom was struggling with the bat, slashing an awful .150/.209/.163 across 86 plate appearances.

Grissom would remain on the Injured List until the end of July, when he was sent on a rehab assignment to Worcester and would remain there upon being activated from the IL on August 8, which was immediately followed with him being optioned to Worcester. Grissom would remain at Triple-A until September 20, when he was recalled to Boston and played in eight games to finish the season. Grissom looked like a different hitter upon his return, slashing .333/.370/.417.

For the season, Grissom slashed .190/.246/.219 in 114 plate appearances.

What Can Go Right in 2025?
Grissom may have been leapt in the depth chart by Kristian Campbell and Alex Bregman, but he is still a former top prospect and one who has a solid hit tool. Grissom’s potential with the bat is enough to keep him in conversation for a spot on the roster. After last season, the Red Sox could use the offensive potential his bat carries along with him being a right-handed hitter that would help balance out the lefty-heavy lineup they currently have.

If Grissom can stay healthy and prove that he’s closer to the player they saw in eight games towards the end of the season instead of the 22 he played during May, Grissom will be able to make the Sale trade look a little more digestible for Boston. There is less pressure on Grissom this season now with Campbell being thrown into the spotlight and Bregman being the big signing of the offseason. Should Grissom showcase the preternatural hit tool that made him a top prospect, it’ll put the Red Sox in a tough but enviable position to have so many quality offensive contributors on the roster.

How Will This Impact the Red Sox?
If Grissom can put up a successful year, he’ll improve the depth of the lineup, especially in the middle infield. Should he put his name into the starting second baseman conversation, Grissom will create quite the positive problem as the team will look to get not only his bat but also Campbell’s into the everyday lineup.

Such a rebound by Grissom gives the Red Sox a dynamic batting order that mixes contact, power and speed to give them a varied offensive attack. Grissom would lengthen the lineup as he could bat in the bottom third and take pressure off of players like Connor Wong and Ceddanne Rafaela to produce. Or, should the Red Sox choose to focus on offense over defense, it could lead to Kristian Campbell playing left field and Jarren Duran sliding over from left field to center field and forcing Rafaela to the bench.

A healthy and productive Grissom gives the Red Sox a new weapon that helps transform the roster in multiple ways. And, let's be honest: it would be nice to see some ROI on the Sale trade after the southpaw's Cy Young season last year.

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