Chicago White Sox shortstop Braden Shewmake (ankle) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners, playing shortstop and batting ninth in the order. Shewmake has recovered quickly from the left-ankle sprain that he suffered last Sunday and is back in the spring lineup this weekend. The 26-year-old rookie make his big-league debut in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves but made only two appearances, going 0-for-4 at the plate with a strikeout. He was traded to the White Sox last November and should be able to win a bench spot on the Opening Day roster as long as he doesn't suffer a setback with his ankle in the next couple of days. Shewmake figures to serve as the primary backup at the 6 in Chicago this year behind Paul DeJong.
Chicago White Sox infielder Braden Shewmake (ankle) doesn't look like he's going to be ready in time for Opening Day. The 26-year-old has suffered a left ankle sprain that is going to sideline him for 2-4 weeks of action. That's a shame considering Shewmake was looking like a lock to make the Opening Day roster. Now, the White Sox will likely have to go with another veteran option while top prospect Colson Montgomery continues developing in the minors. The good news is that Shewmake should be back on the field in a few weeks.
The Atlanta Braves optioned infield prospect Braden Shewmake to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday. Shewmake, the team's No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, just wasn't seeing enough playing time in Atlanta to justify keeping him around any longer. The 25-year-old shortstop saw action in just two games and went hitless in four plate appearances with a strikeout. Shewmake will get regular playing time down on the farm to continue his development, but we could see him again with the Braves later in the season. Orlando Arcia will continue to operate as Atlanta's starting shortstop moving forward. Before getting his first major-league call-up, Shewmake was hitting .243 (25-for-103) with five home runs, 17 RBI and nine stolen bases in 24 games.
Atlanta Braves shortstop prospect Braden Shewmake was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett and will make his major-league debut on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Dean Kremer. Shewmake is starting at shortstop and is hitting ninth in the batting order. With Vaughn Grissom hitting a lowly .190 with seven strikeouts in his last six games, the Braves are giving Shewmake a chance to prove himself at the major-league level after he was hitting .243 (25-for-103) with seven doubles, five home runs, 19 RBI and nine stolen bases in 24 games with Gwinnett. Shewmake, the Braves' No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is mostly a contact hitter, so fantasy managers shouldn't invest heavily in him in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues.
The Atlanta Braves will option both shortstops Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake to Triple-A Gwinnett to begin the 2023 regular season. Grissom entered spring training as an early favorite to open the year as Atlanta's starting shortstop, but instead it's expected to be veteran Orlando Arcia. Grissom hit an impressive .291/.353/.440 with a .792 OPS, five home runs, 18 RBI, 24 runs scored and five stolen bases in his first 41 MLB games in 2022, but he didn't appear ready to handle the everyday shortstop duties this spring defensively. Shewmake is the team's No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and the Braves will look to get both he and Grissom regular playing time in the minors to begin the 2023 season. Grissom's fantasy value obviously takes a big hit, but it would be a surprise if he's not back in the majors at some point this year.
Braden Shewmake, Vaughn Grissom Need Everyday Playing Time
MLB.com's Mark Bowman doesn't expect Atlanta Braves shortstop prospect Braden Shewmake to make the team's Opening Day roster in a bench role. At this stage of their careers, the Braves need Shewmake and Vaughn Grissom to play every day, and Grissom is expected to be Atlanta's shortstop to begin the 2023 campaign. However, Shewmake has impressed this spring by hitting .292 (7-for-24) with two doubles, a triple, four RBI and a run scored in 11 Grapefruit League games. The former first-rounder hit just .259/.316/.399 with a .715 OPS, seven home runs, 25 RBI, 37 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 76 games for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2022 and would probably benefit from some more time down on the farm.
