“Some people watch the game, some people go on the computer,” said Vaughn Grissom, pointing to the Boston Red Sox’s over-reliance on analytics. The Red Sox acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Chris Sale in December 2023. But their expectation of him as the centerpiece didn’t pan out. And after one injury-filled season and limited opportunities, the former top prospect fell out of their plans.

He was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Angels last year. And Grissom has been more productive ever since. The 25-year-old broke his silence after months, explaining why it didn’t work in Boston. 

“I think I would probably attribute that to the computer, you know what I mean?” Grissom revealed to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald.

“You have to watch the game, and I think I’m damn near the same player. It’s just the opportunity. These people believe in me, and in Boston there was no belief in the player.”

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“It is what it is, some people watch the game, some people go on the computer.”

Vaughn Grissom made his major league debut with the Braves in 2022. He had limited appearances (41 and 23 games) in his first two years. But he was hitting at .291 and .280 during that time. And it was good enough for the Red Sox to give up Chris Sale.

Some reports suggest that Boston was unwilling to carry on with Sale’s 5-year, $145 million contract.

They wanted Grissom to play a key role in their lineup. However, he suffered multiple disruptions in 2024 due to groin strain, hamstring injury, and weight loss. Then Grissom spent all of 2025 in Triple-A Worcester.

His numbers improved to .270/.342/.441 before a plantar fasciitis issue ended his season. Boston eventually traded him to the Angels last December.

He has had 79 appearances in the major leagues so far. And Vaughn Grissom is batting at .250 with a .697 OPS. 

“Maybe I don’t look the best on paper, but you watch enough, and you see what the player is bringing,” the youngster noted.

He was actually referring to Boston and Craig Breslow’s overdependence on analytics. And this is not a fresh debate.

The Los Angeles Angels fired three pitching coaches due to the same reason on August 11. Interim general manager John Mozeliak noted that pitching coach Mike Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott, and bullpen coach Dom Chiti were not using technology, which called for a decision.

Data analytics in baseball rose from the early 2000s, particularly following the publication of Michael Lewis’ book Moneyball. The book details how Billy Beane, the Oakland Athletics general manager, used statistical analysis to build a competitive team with limited resources. This approach, known as sabermetrics, was initially met with skepticism but eventually proved successful, inspiring other teams to adopt similar data-driven methods.

Data allowed small-market teams to find players who are undervalued and gain an edge. Teams use advanced metrics, such as exit velocity, spin rate, and launch angle, to make decisions while building rosters and during games.

Grissom’s advanced metrics were poor in 2025, featuring a miserable .190/.246/.219 slash line, a -0.7 fWAR, and a dismal 33 OPS+ across 31 major league games in 2024. His Statcast and advanced hitting data did not reflect impact or loud contact, marked by minimal extra-base hits, just 3 for Boston.

But before his trade from the Braves, FanGraphs described him as “hitterish.” In 2022, his 95th percentile EV was 340th out of 562 Triple-A hitters with at least 200 batted balls, noted one Braves faithful on Reddit.

Yet, Grissom couldn’t find enough opportunities even when the Red Sox’s infield was struggling through multiple injuries in 2025. Players like Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela, among others, were infield options before him. 

Even though the Angels are one of the worst teams in MLB this season, Grissom has been one of its bright spots.

The second baseman has recorded 47 RBIs, 7 home runs, and 21 walks.

However, these numbers don’t necessarily prove that the Boston Red Sox were wrong. His poor offensive numbers and defensive concerns make that distinction apparent. While the debate continues, Vaughn Grissom will aim to improve his performance to make stronger cases in the future.