Late Monday, the Atlanta Braves optioned Braden Shewmake and Vaughn Grissom to Gwinnett and gave the opening-day shortstop job to Orlando Arcia.
Most Atlanta Braves fans were baffled by the announcement because the Braves repeatedly said they believed Vaughn Grissom was their shortstop of the future.
As Spring Training approached, the club began emphasizing Arcia and Grissom would compete for the job. Grissom started the spring well, then a healthy Braden Shewmake appeared and turned the competition into a three-horse race. Suddenly Shewmake was playing short every day, and Grissom faded into the Spring Training fog.
Where in the Camp is Vaughn Grissom?
On March 17, Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker was asked about Grissom and said all was well.
Snitker said Grissom will play tomorrow. This is the third straight day Grissom hasn’t played. But Snit said he’s healthy.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 17, 2023
Grissom started as advertised on the 18th, but he was the DH, not the shortstop.
After the game, Snitker once again said either Grissom or Shewmake would break camp with the Braves, but
Snit on the SS battle: "We're going to take one of the two (Shewmake or Grissom) more than likely. We'll see who we leave with in a couple of weeks."
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 18, 2023
Two days later, the Atlanta Braves demoted both players.
This morning Peter Gammons, who knows a lot about baseball and Boston but hasn’t been in Braves camp lately, tweeted the team was “concerned that Vaughn Grissom had an issue in the hernia area,” without specifying which hernia area he meant.
Gammon’s fairytale was quickly squashed by both beat writers, who pointed out that:
- Gammon’s fairytale was quickly squashed by both beat writers, who pointed out that:
- Grissom did his on-field training with Ron Washington every day,
- Played nine innings in his yesterday's game,
- There’s no reason to hide an injury,
- The MLBPA would throw a shoe if the team sent an injured player down instead of putting him on the Major League IL.