written in conjunction with Gemini
The news of Triston Casas’ ruptured left patellar tendon, sidelining him for the entire 2025 season, is a gut punch for the Boston Red Sox. While the front office is exploring all options, both internal and external, the immediate void at first base presents a golden opportunity to infuse youth and offensive upside directly from the farm system. It’s time for the Red Sox to strongly consider calling up either Vaughn Grissom or Blaze Jordan to step in at first base.
While both have primarily played other infield positions, their offensive profiles and the current organizational needs make a strong case for this aggressive move.
Vaughn Grissom: A Bat Begging for a Home
Vaughn Grissom’s journey in the Red Sox organization has been a bit of a positional puzzle. Acquired as a middle infielder, his defensive inconsistencies at shortstop and the emergence of other young talents at second base have left him in Triple-A Worcester to start the 2025 season. However, his bat has always been his calling card, and it’s currently red-hot.
Reports indicate Grissom has been absolutely raking in Triple-A, boasting a remarkable 1.024 OPS with three home runs in only 16 games as of mid-April. He even collected five extra-base hits in a single game recently. This kind of offensive production simply cannot be ignored, especially for a team in need of a jolt.
The argument against Grissom at first base is his lack of experience at the position. He’s primarily played second base and shortstop in his career. However, first base is generally considered the least demanding defensive infield position. Grissom has reportedly been taking reps at first base in pregame workouts, demonstrating a willingness to expand his versatility and perhaps signaling the organization’s foresight for this very scenario. Putting a natural infielder with his athleticism and offensive talent at first base is a much more palatable defensive risk than asking a less athletic player to make the transition.
Furthermore, getting Grissom regular at-bats at the big league level is crucial for his development. He’s 24 years old and has shown flashes of his potential in prior MLB stints. This is a chance to see if his offensive talent can translate to consistent major league production in a position that minimizes his defensive liabilities elsewhere on the infield.
Blaze Jordan: The Power Profile Boston Needs
Blaze Jordan has always been known for his raw power, and after steadily progressing through the minor league ranks, he’s making a compelling case for a call-up. Currently in Double-A Portland, Jordan has been on an absolute tear, recently earning Eastern League Player of the Week honors. He’s slashing .306 on the season, ranking seventh in the Eastern League, and is fourth in the league with 30 RBIs. Notably, he’s been demonstrating excellent plate discipline, drawing more walks (18) than strikeouts (17) in May, which is a significant improvement in his approach.
Crucially, Jordan has been splitting his defensive time between first and third base throughout his minor league career, with scouting reports indicating that first base is his likely long-term defensive home. He has soft hands and his lack of range is less of an issue at first. This makes him a more natural fit at the position than Grissom from a defensive perspective, and he has experience there.
At just 22 years old, Jordan represents a pure power bat that the Red Sox lineup could desperately use. While there’s always an adjustment period to big league pitching, his improved plate discipline and consistent hard contact suggest he’s ready for the challenge. Promoting Jordan now could accelerate his development and provide a much-needed offensive spark.
The Case for an Aggressive Approach
While the Red Sox could pursue a veteran trade candidate for first base, bringing up Grissom or Jordan aligns with a long-term vision.
- Evaluate Internal Talent: This is a prime opportunity to see if either Grissom or Jordan can be part of the long-term solution. With Casas’ future still a question mark after two significant injuries, having a backup plan or a potential platoon partner is essential.
- Infuse Youth and Excitement: Both players are young, exciting prospects who could energize a lineup that has at times struggled to find consistent offense.
- Minimize Prospect Cost: Trading for a first baseman would almost certainly require parting with valuable prospects. Utilizing internal options allows the Red Sox to hold onto their developing talent.
- Send a Message to the Farm System: Promoting top-performing prospects sends a clear message throughout the organization: perform, and you’ll get your chance.
The Red Sox are at a crossroads at first base. While the initial reaction might be to seek an immediate, proven veteran, the smart play, the one that truly builds for the future while addressing immediate needs, is to give Vaughn Grissom or Blaze Jordan the call. Let’s see what these promising bats can do at Fenway.
Editor’s Note: It is not unheard of for a player to get called up from AA and Jordan does have more 1B experience than Grissom. I think the smart emergency choice would be to call up Jordan to see if he can handle pitching in the majors, but in a parallel move, start putting Grissom in at 1B in Worcester in case Jordan isn’t ready. All the while, Breslow must be searching the trade market in case these moves don’t pan out leading up to the trade deadline … which is fast approaching!
