Vaughn Grissom makes history with HR, steal in debut

Starting at second and batting ninth, Grissom went 2-for-4 with a strikeout and a stolen base in his debut, securing his first career hit and homer in one at-bat and helping to turn two double plays in the Braves’ 8-4 win over the Red Sox.

Grissom reached base in his first at-bat after grounding into a forceout in the third. His next time up, he struck out on four pitches to open the fifth. When he stepped up to the plate for his third at-bat, Grissom hammered a first-pitch fastball out of the ballpark.

“The competitive nature kicked in,” Grissom said. “I had a couple of at-bats, and I failed a couple of times. So it was just like, ‘All right, like you’re down.’ I’m not gonna say I expected it, but like, I need to do something.”

Grissom became the youngest player in AL/NL history to homer and swipe a bag in his debut—though watching him play, it’s easy to forget his age. Whether it be his composure on the field or the conviction in his bat flip, Grissom is already displaying a big league attitude just one game in.

“He did great. Nothing fazed him,” manager Brian Snitker said.