Vaughn Grissom has a lot of work to do.
Alex Cora didn’t hide from that reality when he spoke about Grissom’s situation Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles. Grissom, whose setbacks this season included injuries and an illness that yielded significant weight loss, currently is rehabbing with Triple A-Worcester. But this rehab assignment is a bit different than the ordinary, as Cora and company want to see multi-faceted development from the 23-year-old before he rejoins Boston.
Included in this plan is getting stronger and “crushing it” in the weight room. With plenty on Grissom’s plate, Cora wants the talented infielder to focus more on his assignments and less on what’s happening at the big league level.
“I think the most important thing here for him is to kind of separate what’s going on here and what we need to do with him,” Cora told reporters, per The Boston Globe. “We haven’t seen the best of Vaughn Grissom. How are we going to accomplish that? We have to take all the steps and get him stronger.
“When we get the athlete that we envision, then we’re gonna get the player. Then when the player shows up, then we make decisions (on what’s next.)”
Fortunately for Grissom, he shouldn’t feel any pressure as he tries to work his way back. The Red Sox’s middle infield has fared well in his absence, and at his young age, he hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he could become.
All told, the future remains very bright for Grissom.
