The Boston Red Sox have shuffled around their infield depth throughout the 2024 season with the day-to-day lineup seeing multiple changes at first, second base and shortstop, which -- even with 25 games remaining in the regular season -- could still be the case as the team hunts down a playoff spot.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora started infielders Romy González and Nick Sogard at second base and shortstop respectively for Sunday afternoon's 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. González and Sogard went a combined 3-for-5 at the plate, finishing responsible for half of Boston's total hits (six) and signaling a further need for an offensive boost. Meanwhile, over 678 miles from Comerica Park, right-handed infielder Vaughn Grissom crushed a three-run home run for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park. Grissom finished 1-for-4 in Worcester's 11-6 win over the Toledo Mud Hens, continuing a recent red-hot stretch in the batter's box worthy of September call-up consideration from Boston.
Grissom's previous .204 batting average has surged to .240 as the 23-year-old's undergone an efficient 11-for-28 stretch (two home runs, 13 RBIs) within the past seven games logged in Triple-A. Perhaps that'll be enough for the Red Sox, who've watched their offense scrap across three or fewer runs in four of Boston's last five games, failing to take advantage of high quality pitching performances due to mininal lineup momentum. In finishing off their three-game weekend battle in Detroit, the Red Sox were led out of Comerica Park after plating home two runs throughout the final 18 innings of the series. That won't cut it moving forward, especially for a team sitting 4 1/2 games behind the final avaiable postseason ticket in the American League wild card standings.
Boston hasn't shied away from aggressive rotster movement, predominately to re-tool the infield and bullpen. The Red Sox endured multi-month absences to Trevor Story and Triston Casas while, so far, only getting 23 big league appearances from Grissom's debut campaign with the organization. Cora has vocalized the team's commitment to chasing a playoff run on its behalf countless times this season, but for a clubhouse that's endured as much as the Red Sox have since Opening Day, that's an easier-said-than-done endeavor to get a hold of. Boston's due for a scolding hot stretch of baseball, especially having not recorded a series sweep since the All-Star break and with the ongoing struggles to perform at Fenway Park -- the Red Sox have gone 31-38 at home.
There's not much time left on the clock for Grissom to make a difference and contribute to Boston's playoff push, but there is a case to be made. Grissom's right-handed bat and middle infield glove could both help, now more than ever and with Story, who hasn't played since April, too, working toward rejoining the big league roster soon.
