Vaughn Grissom returns to Atlanta, but this time with Boston as his enemy

The Atlanta Braves prepare to host the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park for a quick two-game series. This is going to be an interesting series because the Red Sox are playing surprisingly well and have excellent pitching.

There will also be a bit of drama as former Braves prospect Vaughn Grissom returns to Atlanta for the first time since being traded for Chris Sale. Both sides of this transaction will be presented this week for their former clubs.

Chris Sale, who was considered to have his best years behind him, showed he had more left in the tank after Boston traded him. He hopes to continue this good work and show them what they have lost. He faces his former employer on Wednesday evening.

He was one of Atlanta’s biggest highlights with a 3.44 ERA and 4-1 record in 36.2 innings. Sale allowed 14 earned runs with seven walks and 42 strikeouts.

His 42 strikeouts are tied for 10th in the National League alongside MacKenzie Gore, Brandon Pfaadt and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. So, it’s going to be fun to see him face a Red Sox offense that has struck out 347 times in 2024, which is second-most in baseball.

Grissom just joined his new team after being injured during spring training with a hamstring issue. Boston is excited to add Grissom to their roster because they could use a decent defensive option in the field and his bat is already a no-brainer.

In 64 total games with the Braves in 2022 and 2023, Grissom hit .287 with a .746 OPS, five home runs, 27 RBIs and five stolen bases. He was also a valued member of the clubhouse, as many of his teammates in Atlanta said after the trade was announced.

Boston received a big player that they will have a few years of control over and Atlanta received a veteran starter who has become one of the best pieces in the 2024 rotation.

Vaughn has only played in two games so far at the MLB level and has one hit (a double) with two RBIs. He began returning to the majors on April 12 with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate. He appeared in nine games and had a .333 average with 10 hits, two RBIs, two stolen bases, five walks and nine strikeouts.

He still hits the ball well and is a threat on the base paths. While he returns with the enemy, it will be fun to see Grissom back on the field at Truist Park. Interestingly, he landed with the team he hit his first MLB home run against and fans will never forget him blasting the baseball at the Green Monster.

He has a career average of .337 in 29 games at Truist Park. His trade to Boston was hard to digest at the time because he fit so well into the Braves’ incredible clubhouse culture.

However, he has found his new home and we will support his success from afar and know that Atlanta played a small role in shaping his MLB future.