The Padres are getting a big bat back in the lineup on Saturday. Trent Grisham has been activated from the 10-day injured list, while Brian O’Grady has been optioned to Triple-A, the team announced.
O’Grady has been the first man up from Triple-A for the Padres most of this season. The 29-year-old is a capable defender, but he’s hit just .167/.279/.333 over 44 plate appearances in the majors this season.
Grisham is a key bat and defensive player for the Padres, despite his relative lack of major league experience. The 24-year-old has 589 plate appearances in his career — more-or-less one full professional season — but that time has been broken up between 183 plate appearances with the Brewers in 2019, 252 plate appearances for the Padres during the shortened 2020 season and 154 plate appearances around a couple of injured list stints this season. When healthy, he’s proved to be a potent and well-rounded contributor, slashing .301/.383/.515 with six home runs and seven stolen bases in 2021.
The Pads will be eager to get Grisham back, especially right now, as their offense has been in a bit of a funk of late. They have an 89 wRC+ as a team going back to May 15.
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