When the Atlanta Braves acquired Robbie Grossman, it was in the hope that he could be a platoon option with some upside in the outfield. While his overall season stat line left a lot to be desired, he did have some big moments for the Braves during the 2022 season.
How did the 2022 season go for Robbie Grossman?
Grossman began his 2022 campaign with the Detroit Tigers and it is fair to say that it did not go very well for him there. While he retained his ability to draw walks at a good clip, the rest of his offensive stats were the lowest of his career as he slashed .205/.313/.282 in 83 games with Detroit. Grossman was never a big power threat, but that .282 slugging percentage was miserably bad although his numbers from the right side of the plate were significantly better.
However, the Braves saw something in him that made them think that he could be an asset for them, so they sent pitching prospect Kris Anglin to Detroit to acquire Robbie at the trade deadline. Once in the fold, the Braves knew that time was of the essence as they were in a tight pennant race and after some notable swing adjustments, Grossman started to look significantly better at the plate…especially from the left side.
Unfortunately, despite some late game heroics out of him, he wasn’t able to translate those adjustments into sustainable success in a Braves uniform as he continued to struggle to make hard contact. Overall, in 46 games with Atlanta, Grossman slashed .217/.306/.370 which, while better than his time with the Tigers, was decidedly not great objectively.
What to expect from Robbie Grossman in 2023?
Grossman hit free agency this offseason and it seems highly unlikely that he will return to the Braves. While Atlanta has some issues with the left field spot on their roster, the current problem isn’t a lack of players for the spot, but a lack of players that anyone has any amount of confidence in. Grossman is a capable fielder, but bringing him back doesn’t really solve anything.
As a result, Grossman will be looking for a major league job coming off a pretty brutal season. His ability to draw walks and field will likely get him a job as at least a fourth outfielder somewhere.