January 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Grissom acquired from Braves in stunning trade
Grissom, who turns 23 later this week, was originally selected by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2019 amateur draft. The right-handed-hitting infielder broke in with Atlanta in August of 2022, most notably recording his first career hit (and first career home run) against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. He has appeared in a total of 64 big-league contests over the last two seasons and has batted .287/.339/.407 with nine doubles, one triple, five homers, 27 RBIs, 29 runs scored, five stolen bases, 13 walks, and 49 strikeouts while seeing playing time at both middle infield positions.
A Florida native with Puerto Rican roots, Grissom has spent part of his winter playing in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente by joining the Cangrejeros de Santurce last month for the final weeks of the regular season. With that, we will now get into how Grissom, and a few other members of the Red Sox organization, have fared with their respective winter ball clubs.
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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)
Grissom debuted for Santurce on December 9 and appeared in 13 regular season games, going 11 for 43 (.256) with one double, three RBIs, three runs scored, one stolen base, four walks, and eight strikeouts. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder put up those numbers at the plate while making six starts at third base and seven starts in left field. That is notable since Atlanta reportedly wanted Grissom to gain some experience in the outfield before ultimately electing to deal him to Boston.
Sticking with position players, catcher Juan Montero got into five games for Leones de Ponce this winter. The 21-year-old backstop went 2 for 9 (.222) with a double, a walk, and three strikeouts. From behind the plate, he committed just one error in 20 chances over 18 defensive innings.
Elsewhere, Jorge Benitez put the finishing touches on a strong winter with Caguas. Altogether, the 24-year-old lefty posted a 0.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 20 strikeouts to seven walks over 14 relief appearances spanning 15 innings of work for the Criollos.
Christian Koss, meanwhile, was a late addition to Caguas' roster after signing with the club on Christmas. The versatile 25-year-old got into five games before season's end and went 3 for 11 (.273) with a double, three RBIs, one run scored, one stolen base, and two strikeouts. He made two starts in right field and one start in left field.
Three of the four teams mentioned here have made it to the semifinals in the LBPRC playoffs. Beginning on Tuesday night, Santurce will host Caguas and the Gigantes de Carolina will host Ponce in a pair of best-of-seven series. The winners will face one another in the league finals, which are set to begin on Friday, January 12.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Toros del Este, the only LIDOM club with any Red Sox representation this winter, failed to qualify for the postseason as a result of a last-place finish. Enmanuel Valdez, who did not play after November 11, went 4 for 36 (.111) with two RBIs, four runs scored, one stolen base, seven walks, and nine strikeouts over 11 games (47 plate appearances). In addition to drawing seven walks, the 25-year-old second baseman was hit by a pitch on four separate occasions.
Pablo Reyes, on the other hand, got into 20 games for Toros. The right-handed hitting 30-year-old slashed .262/.377/.492 with three doubles, four home runs, 11 RBIs, 10 runs scored, one stolen base, 11 walks, and nine strikeouts across 78 trips to the plate. After making starts at five different defensive positions in that stretch, Reyes -- by instruction of the Red Sox -- was taken off Toros' roster on December 18.
Photo Credit: Vaughn Grissom via MiLB.com