Vaughn Grissom -- General News

The Angels are attempting to increase playing time for two of their better-performing hitters, Vaughn Grissom and Oswald Peraza, by having them train and play left field. Both players are currently infielders without everyday spots in the lineup despite strong recent performance. Manager Kurt Suzuki believes teaching them outfield positions will expand their utility and provide more lineup flexibility.

The strategic goal is to use Grissom and Peraza in left field against left-handed pitchers, allowing them to supplement or replace the current left fielder, Bryce Teodosio. Currently, both players start every game against lefty pitchers in infield positions, so adding left field capability would create additional opportunities against right-handed pitchers as well.

Peraza is making his professional debut in left field with this experiment, while Grissom brings experience from seven left field games in winter ball. If either player demonstrates competency at the position, Suzuki could deploy one of them over struggling Josh Lowe in left field while simultaneously inserting Yoán Moncada at third base, solving a current lineup construction challenge. The Angels appear cautious about benching Lowe or Moncada immediately, as both recorded two hits in their most recent start together on Saturday.

The Angels activated 25-year-old infielder Vaughn Grissom on Saturday following completion of his Triple-A rehab assignment. Grissom, acquired over the winter as a change-of-scenery candidate after underperforming with the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox, suffered a wrist injury during spring training that delayed his Angels debut. During his nine-game Triple-A assignment, he batted .343 with a .761 OPS while demonstrating an impressive contact approach, striking out in only 19% of his plate appearances compared to just three strikeouts in 33 spring training at-bats.

Grissom will enter a crowded Angels infield, with multiple positional options available. He started at second base in his activation game, though he also can play third base and has experience at first base. The depth chart at second includes Adam Frazier and Oswald Peraza, while he can also provide depth at third behind Yoán Moncada. Angels manager Kurt Suzuki praised Grissom's versatility, contact hitting, and power potential, stating the team is "excited to finally get him back off rehab."

To create roster space, the Angels designated outfielder Jeimer Candelario for assignment. Candelario had earned his roster spot with a strong spring but struggled early in the regular season, managing only two hits in 18 at-bats. The timing of Grissom's activation comes as the Angels face four left-handed starters in their final six games on this road trip, including two against the Yankees, which may affect playing time decisions for left-handed hitters like Nolan Schanuel and Josh Lowe.

Vaughn Grissom, acquired by the Los Angeles Angels from the Boston Red Sox in December 2025, is competing for a utility infielder role with the team. The 25-year-old former Top 100 prospect began the season on the injured list with a sprained left wrist but impressed during his Triple-A rehab assignment with Salt Lake, hitting over .340 through nine games. Angels manager Kurt Suzuki noted Grissom's strong Spring Training performance and valued his defensive versatility, stating he can cover "pretty much every infield spot" and provide flexibility in lineup construction.

Grissom has collected his first hits as an Angel, including a multi-hit performance against the Yankees. Red Sox GM Perry Minasian, who drafted Grissom with Atlanta, acquired him specifically for his contact bat and competitive nature, though without guarantees. Grissom has limited minor league options remaining, making this a critical opportunity to establish himself as a regular. His 2022 rookie season with the Braves featured a .291 average with 18 RBI over 41 games, demonstrating his potential upside.