Sunshine State spotlight: Vaughn Grissom making impactful debut
Former Hagerty High School standout Vaughn Grissom has delivered some power and shown potential since being called up by the Atlanta Braves
By Joe Frisaro @ManOn2nd
MIAMI — From 11th round pick to top prospect.
Atlanta Braves infielder Vaughn Grissom is a reminder that talent can be discovered in any round of the MLB Draft.
The 21-year-old Florida-native is making an immediate impact since being promoted from Double-A and making his MLB debut on Aug. 10 against the Boston Red Sox.
At historic Fenway Park, Grissom had two hits, including a home run, in his first big league game.
This weekend, Grissom is playing in his home state against the Miami Marlins. In pitcher-friendly loanDepot park, Grissom crushed a home run on Saturday that projected at 440-feet.
“If you do well, you’re going to get noticed,” Braves manager Brian Snitker told ManOn2nd. “He was having a really strong year. He was doing it in Double-A. We’ve historically been an organization that’s not afraid to call a guy up from Double-A. “
The Braves have been searching for a solution at second base since Ozzie Albies went on the injured list. Veteran Robinson Cano was given a shot, but his tenure in Atlanta was short as he was designated for assignment on Aug. 4.
Grissom, a natural shortstop, was given the nod and called up from Double-A Mississippi six days after Cano was let go.
“We all liked him in Spring Training,” Snitker said. “The short time he was there, and we saw him. The work ethic. The energy that he brought. The scouts really liked him. The guys in the Minor Leagues had a lot of really good things to say. I’m happy for him to have such a great first day, the other day. At Fenway Park, that’s really cool.”
Grissom was selected in the 11th round in the 2019 draft. The Braves also picked center fielder Michael Harris II in the third round that year.
At Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Grissom was a prep teammate of Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene.
Greene, 21, was the fifth overall pick by the Tigers in 2019, and he’s already playing regularly in center field for Detroit.
As freshman, Grissom and Greene also were in the same lineup as Ryan Mountcastle, now a power-hitting first baseman with the Baltimore Orioles.
“A lot of these young guys, they’re getting here a lot quicker than they ever used to, that’s for sure,” Snitker said. “He was high school teammates from the guy in Detroit [Greene]. Michael Harris, they were all in the same draft. They’re getting here in a hurry, that’s for sure.”