Atlanta Braves call up their top prospect, also bolster bullpen
One move was expected, but the Atlanta Braves have now made another bold roster move necessitated by injury.
It wasn’t enough that the Atlanta Braves saw fit to promote Michael Harris II to the majors ahead of schedule. Today this team is showing that they are willing to do whatever is necessary to keep their playoff chase going.
The options for teams to replace injured players are somewhat limited now that we’re beyond the trade deadline, but Atlanta did have some options available to them, namely some recently released players such as Andrelton Simmons, Didi Gregorius, Alcides Escobar, and Taylor Motter.
All of these players are major league veterans who could at least be counted upon to provide innings in the field to bridge the gap until Ozzie Albies is able to return.
Yeah… scratch that. Atlanta is going to go in an entirely different direction.
For the second time this season, #Braves are bringing their top prospect directly from Double A to majors. It was Michael Harris II on May 28, now it's shortstop Vaughn Grissom, 21, who's played 22 games above Single A.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 10, 2022
Also, reliever Kirby Yates has been activated from IL.
Orlando Arcia has been placed on the 10-day Injured List as a result of the hamstring issue that developed as he tried to leg out a double in the 10th inning last night. It was a critical hit that kept the Braves in the game until their breakthrough in the 11th.
Unfortunately, Arcia would not be around to celebrate that victory as he had to be helped into the clubhouse. That injury demanded a change… and Grissom is coming to Boston today as a result.
Grissom, still just 21 years old, was only recently promoted to the AA level. He’s played 22 games at Mississippi, but has been tearing up Southern League pitching thus far: hitting .363/.408/.517 for an OPS of .925… better than his results at High-A Rome.
He’s also no light-hitting shortstop, either, hammering out 14 homers this season in 96 games and 442 plate appearances overall.
Grissom has been moved around the infield, playing everything other than 1st base, but he’ll clearly be used at 2nd for now.
Curiously enough, this move will also give the Braves and their major league coaching staff a chance to see Grissom in person for this stretch run… which might become important since Dansby Swanson remains unsigned for next season at this point.
It’s rare — very much so — to insert a rookie into the middle of a pennant race, but here we go:
"“And lest anyone wonder, they aren’t bringing Grissom up to ride the pine and be a backup. They are bringing him up to play. A lot.” / Twitter"
Certainly, the performances of both Harris and Spencer Strider might help the team’s confidence to try this tactic with Grissom, but at the same time, his minor league numbers are speaking (quite loudly) for himself.
To make room for Grissom on the 40-man roster, Adam Duvall was moved to the 60-day IL. Arcia’s placement on the 10-day IL allows the rookie to be placed on the active roster.
But wait, there’s more
The wait for Kirby Yates is now over. The 35-year-old has passed the tests of his rehab assignments and is returning to the majors for the first time since August 14, 2020.
Thus he’s faced only 25 batters in “real” games since the beginning of that season… at least he’s well-rested.
That changes tonight.
Yates has thrown 8.1 innings in the minors during his rehab tour of the Southland, with the last 5.1 coming at the AAA level. He’s yielded 1 run, struck out 10, and walked 2 in the process (with 1 hit batsman).
His WHIP? 0.72. That will play in any league.
When he’s healthy, Yates has been among the best relievers, racking up an MLB-best 41 saves in 2019 as a Padre. That came in 60.2 innings with 101 K against 13 walks.
He clearly doesn’t mind throwing inside as he hit 7 batters that year, but his 1.19 ERA and 0.89 WHIP explain clearly what Atlanta hoped for when they picked him up in the last off-season.
Now he joins a bullpen loaded with closer-level talent. The corresponding move on the active roster for Yates was to see Huascar Ynoa optioned back to Gwinnett.
These moves should raise the bar a couple of levels starting tonight against the Red Sox.
The struggles in this lineup. dark. Next
The need for Grissom comes at the unfortunate expense of Arcia, but just having him as an option is going to be helpful to this team down the stretch.