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Opening Day Return Remains Unlikely For Boston Red Sox Infielder Vaughn Grissom

Vaughn Grissom's groin injury isn't considered to be a long-term concern, but the new Boston Red Sox infielder still isn't expected to be ready in time for Opening Day.

Sam Connon

Opening Day Return Remains Unlikely For Boston Red Sox Infielder Vaughn Grissom
Opening Day Return Remains Unlikely For Boston Red Sox Infielder Vaughn Grissom /

Boston Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom is not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reported Monday morning.

Grissom's groin strain is not seen as a long-term issue, even though the injury could keep him sidelined for the entire month of March.

Manager Alex Cora first spoke about Grissom's injury on March 2. At the time, Grissom's availability for the start of the regular season was brought into doubt, and it appears as if the concern was warented.

On top of the fact that he was who the Atlanta Braves sent back in December's blockbuster Chris Sale trade, Grissom had been penciled in as the Red Sox's everyday second baseman for 2024. The 23-year-old has six years left of team control remaining as well, so Grissom was considered to be a part of Boston's young core moving forward.

Grissom is a .287 hitter with a .746 OPS in 64 career MLB appearances. He had five home runs, 27 RBI, five stolen bases and a 0.2 WAR as a member of the Braves.

Fangraphs' ZiPS projections have Grissom on pace to hit .284 with 10 home runs, 67 RBI, 11 stolen bases, a .771 OPS and a 2.6 WAR in 128 games this season.

Without Grissom, the Red Sox will likely open the year with Enmanuel Valdez and Pablo Reyes splitting time at second. The pair combined for a 0.4 WAR in 113 games in 2023, in addition to -11 defensive runs saved as second basemen.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.

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