Spring Training games are finally here and it’s music to my ears. To finally hear the crack of the bat and the ball hit the mitt, everything is right in the world. For the Boston Red Sox, they’ve already played one game, beating North Eastern University 5-2. When it comes to players to watch, all eyes will be on the Big Three.

Kristian Campbell is pegged to make the opening day roster. Marcelo Mayer is easing himself back from injury and Roman Anthony is the top ranked prospect in baseball. Every baseball fan will be watching them, as they’ve finally arrived. However, the player with the most to prove is Vaughn Grissom.

Grissom Coming in With Chip on His Shoulder

We are now a year removed from the big trade. The Red Sox sent Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Grissom. The Red Sox also paid the Braves and covered the remainder of Sales deal. It helped land a better prospect in Grissom, taking a page out of Steve Cohens playbook. Sale went on to win the CY Young and Grissom was hurt entirely, giving the Red Sox frustration as they saw their former ace have the best year of his career. So, with that being said, Grissom will have a lot to prove and to silence the doubters.

Last season, he was penciled in to play second base almost automatically. Instead he was hurt and barely saw any time with the big club. Now, Campbell and veteran leader Alex Bregman are in the running to man second base. That’s not to say that Grissom cannot find a home in this lineup and on this roster. There is a good reason why the Red Sox coveted him in this deal.

In 2022 with the Braves, he finished with 122 wRC+ and had an OPS north of .700. When it comes to his bat, he has shown flashes of power, but majority of his hits are in the medium contact range. Grissom is far from a polished player, but he does have a lot to offer.

While he struggled to stay healthy with the Red Sox he showed his true potential once he nursed himself back to health, he was an effective player in Worcester. While the results were much to be desired with Boston, he was hitting .259 and with an OPS of .758. Also, he was able to steal 10 bags and hit some home runs. He showed his true potential once he got back to health, which makes him a player to watch for.

Watch for Grissom in Spring Training

Grissom will want to show that he was worth acquiring in the big trade. He was never able to  gain any rhythm and build momentum for himself. Now that he is healthy and more prepared, he can build that rhythm and showcase what he’s made of. There will be true competition for this Red Sox team this year, as they are deep with talent. Grissom Is also talented and is willing to prove it this Spring.

Vibes are immaculate for the Red Sox and this team will be fun to watch.