Vaughn

Grissom

Grissom was hit by a pitch in the 11th before the game-ended with a Christian Moore bases-loaded infield single that bounced off Taylor Rogers’ leg. Grissom’s homer off A.J. Minter was his 12th. His .237/.305/.384 line isn’t anything special, but he has managed to drive in 66 runs in 442 plate appearances. He should be ahead of Moore on the depth chart at second base to open next season. It just remains to be seen if the Angels will seek an outside upgrade there.

Grissom has been functioning as the Angels’ everyday first baseman and cleanup hitter in recent weeks, he’ll get a well-deserved day off in this one though. Moises Ballesteros will start in his place and will bat in the cleanup spot against Twins’ right-hander Taj Bradley on Thursday evening at Angel Stadium.

After the Angels had been shut out through seven innings, Grissom brought the team within a run with a two-run homer off Brad Lord. It was the 11th home run for the 25-year-old infielder. He’s slashing .242/.306/.387 with 43 runs and 62 RBI across 414 plate appearances.

Ballesteros has now started four of the last six games at either first base or designated hitter. The Angels are also carrying two other catchers on their roster, so it seems like they will limit how many starts Ballesteros makes behind the dish for the remainder of the season. That has meant Vaughn Grissom has played more third base and Oswald Peraza has shifted to the bench.

Grissom’s last hit was a 391-foot double to left that would have been a homer in 26 ballparks. In Angel Stadium, it really ought to have been caught, but Cody Bellinger just didn’t get a good jump on it. Grissom’s .249/.311/.389 line isn’t especially impressive, and his future as a long-term regular is far from secure. Still, his approach is pretty good, and at age 25, he could get a little stronger. He should be close to clinching a spot on the 2027 Angels, even if he might not deserve to be penciled into the starting lineup.

Grissom hit a two-run homer in the first inning off a wholly ineffective Gavin Williams, and then took Logan Allen deep in the fifth. The 25-year-old is just organizational depth at this stage in his career, but it’s fun to be reminded why Grissom was considered a potential star when coming up in the Atlanta organization.

Christian Moore is up to replace him, so we’ll likely see a lot of him at second and Vaughn Grissom at first. No word yet on what kind of absence we’re looking at for Schanuel, who has hit .276/.351/.385 in 446 plate appearances, but he can be dropped in shallow leagues.

Grissom delivered an RBI single in the second inning that tied the game at 2-2, then came around to score the go-ahead run on a bunt by Tyler Heineman. He then added a two-run double in the fourth that pushed their advantage to 10-2. The 25-year-old has at least held his own at the MLB level this season, slashing .249/.308/.377 with seven long balls and 50 RBI in 329 plate appearances.

Schanuel will take a seat with left-hander Noah Cameron getting the ball for the Royals in this one. Vaughn Grissom will cover first base in his absence while Oswald Peraza starts at second base and will bat seventh for the Halos.

It appears to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 25-year-old infielder. Adam Frazier will start in his place at second base and will bat ninth for the Halos against Marlins’ right-hander Ryan Gusto on Sunday afternoon in Miami.