Vaughn Grissom and Kristian Campbell had been anticipated to battle it out in spring coaching to turn into the beginning second baseman of the Boston Purple Sox.
Now, there’s a serious roadblock of their manner, one which the Purple Sox reportedly simply gave a boatload of cash to.
Boston’s reported three-year, $120 million contract with Alex Bregman dramatically impacts each Grissom and Campbell. All indicators level to Bregman taking up at second base, leaving loads of questions surrounding Grissom’s function and considerably blocking Campbell’s path to the majors.
Grissom, who got here to the Purple Sox final season within the Chris Sale commerce, faces an even bigger impediment than Campbell with Bregman becoming a member of the workforce. Grissom struggled with hamstring accidents in his first season with Boston and batted simply .190 in 31 video games.
Grissom got here into the camp with one thing to show, and that feeling was solely heightened with the Purple Sox touchdown Bregman.
Story continues beneath commercial
“I’d say it motivates me, for positive,” Grissom instructed reporters, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “Clearly, I wish to share the sphere with him. I wouldn’t be egocentric and get upset since you by no means know. You by no means understand how the season begins completely different than it ends. There’s a variety of transferring items and stuff like that. Something can occur. … It’s laborious to guess what occurs on this recreation. However yeah, it motivates me. I really feel able to go and I can’t wait to fulfill him, truthfully.
“I’m nonetheless going to attempt to be the perfect ballplayer I will be and assist the workforce win nevertheless I can in no matter function that could be. You by no means know what can occur.”
Campbell is in a a lot completely different state of affairs than Grissom. He’s considered as one of many prime prospects in all of baseball after a meteoric rise to Triple-A in his first full season of professional ball in 2024.
The Purple Sox bringing in Bregman permits the franchise to be extra affected person with Campbell and provides the 22-year-old extra time to develop within the minor leagues. Campbell additionally has far more positional versatility than Grissom — Campbell can play shortstop, third base and within the outfield whereas Grissom is open to transferring across the diamond — giving the prospect a greater alternative to get extra enjoying time within the huge leagues.
Story continues beneath commercial
And if Campbell sticks with the Purple Sox, he’s trying to decide up some ideas of the commerce from Bregman.
“It was actually cool (to see we signed him),” Campbell mentioned. “He’s a very good participant. Quite a lot of expertise in baseball so it’s actually thrilling to get a man like that. Tons to study from him, being in management roles and championship roles. I feel it’s a very good factor.
“(I wish to) study as a lot as attainable from somebody who has been there and performed that their complete profession. He’s an awesome man from what I’ve heard and it’s a very good participant so I’m going to choose his mind, study as a lot as I can and maintain rolling into spring coaching with a constructive mindset.”
