Atlanta Braves coach explains sending team’s expected starting shortstop Vaughn Grissom to Triple-A: "It just didn’t happen this spring"

The Atlanta Braves threw many baseball fans a curveball this week by sending Vaughn Grissom to Triple-A. Most assumed Grissom as the heir apparent to Dansby Swanson after his departure to the Chicago Cubs in free agency this offseason.

However, the Braves pulled off a stunner, sending both Grissom and top shortstop prospect Braden Shewmake to the minors and declaring veteran Orlando Arcia as the team's opening day shortstop.

While Grissom has played mostly second base in his career, he sparkled in a 41-game major league debut last season, taking over for the injured Ozzie Albies and hitting .291 with five home runs, 18 RBIs, 24 runs and five stolen bases.

Atlanta's plan following Swanson's departure was to have Grissom take over at shortstop, unless he struggled in spring training. In that case, the job was Shewmake's to lose.

However, even though both players performed well this spring, the job went to Arcia. A formerly heralded prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers, Arcia has yet to distinguish himself in seven years at the major league level. Atlanta acquired him in a 2021 trade.

Atlanta Braves coach Ron Washington shed some light on the decision through David O'Brien of the Athletic:

"I'm looking at the process. The process is sustaining, and consistency. That’s what it is. And they’re in the process right now. And they’ve got a very, very, very bright future. It just didn’t happen this spring."

Arcia, 28, has a .243 batting average over seven major league seasons. In 99 games with the Braves in 2021 and 2022, he hit a paltry .237. His best season came in 2017, his first full season in Milwaukee, when he hit .277 with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases over 153 games – but he hasn't recaptured that magic since.

The Braves are an exciting, young team – and Grissom, 22, seemed to fit into that mold perfectly after joining outfielder Michael Harris Jr. as two of the team's 2022 call-ups that handled big league play splendidly.

Atlanta Braves now have two top shortstop prospects at Triple-A

Braden Shewmake of the Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves now have a pair of top shortstop prospects at Triple-A in Grissom and Shewmake, leading fans to wonder who will play the position regularly in the minors.

The 25-year-old Shewmake was a first-round pick of the Braves in 2019 and made his Triple-A debut in 2022 – hitting .259 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 76 games.