When Atlanta Braves rookie Vaughn Grissom hit a home run with an epic bat flip in his Major League debut, he created a buzz. As it turned out, though, he was just getting started.
Grissom’s home run came in the seventh inning. He came up again in the ninth inning and delivered a single. After that, Grissom stole second base.
Vaughn Grissom is on a 162-game pace to hit 162 home runs and steal 162 bases. pic.twitter.com/b1AXlUYG7e
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 11, 2022
While homering and stealing a base in your Major League debut might sound impressive, it really only scratches the surface. In the modern era of Major League Baseball, which dates back to 1900, Grissom is now the youngest player to ever pull off that double in his debut.
The Braves No. 1 ranked prospect Vaughn Grissom homered and stole a base tonight in his MLB Debut.
At 21 years and 217 days old, he became the youngest player to hit a HR and steal a base in his MLB debut in the Modern Era (since 1900). pic.twitter.com/bMV5K6b74M
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 11, 2022
Baseball fans were quick to praise the rookie for his all-around brilliant MLB debut.
Crazy part: he's an 11th round selection (pick #337) in 2019 draft. He didn't play in 2020 due to COVID-19 cancelling season. He never played a single game in Triple-A.
Let that sink in. https://t.co/D3IzNhzWt3— Dion (J & T Sports) (@Dion_JTsports) August 11, 2022
Vaughn Grissom is an 80 grade baseball name. I’m in. https://t.co/15og1LlMrF
— Trent (@TMTraughber) August 11, 2022
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) August 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/_Trapitalism/status/1557567069280997376
He's just the 11th player to do it at any age. https://t.co/D3XDbMcLzx
— Kurtis Seaboldt 🎤 (@KSeaboldt) August 11, 2022
Grissom is only one game into his MLB career. So, time will tell what kind of follow-up performance he’ll have. Prior to getting called up, though, Grissom was hitting .324/.405/.494 with 14 home runs and 27 steals in the Minors. Of course, we don’t know how the rest of his career will play out. But there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that more games like this will be forthcoming.
But regardless of how things go from now on, Grissom knows how to make an entrance. After his performance on Wednesday, he’ll forever have a place in the long history of Major League Baseball.
Not many players can say that after only one game.
[ESPN Stats & Info on Twitter]
