Looking at the options for first base help in Worcester: Grissom, Sogard in the mix

WORCESTER -- Abraham Toro was informed late Friday night that he would be headed to Boston to help stem the tide at first base after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury in the Red Sox’ win over Minnesota.

While Toro will figure into the equation for Boston in the short term, there are some options in Worcester who can help down the road, though for some, more time at first base will be needed before they can take on the position in the majors.

The greenest option at first base but a good offensive choice is Vaughn Grissom, who has very limited experience at the position, playing there four times this season for the WooSox.

“I know he’s been okay,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “It’s learning process, right? There’s been some really good plays, and then there’s been some different plays that have found him where he gets kind of caught in between.”

Tracy said on days when Grissom isn’t playing first, the team plans to ramp up his reps at first base during practice.

“He’s more than capable,” Tracy said. “It’s just a matter of continuing to accrue practice reps and stuff like that.”

Grissom is likely the best offensive option, hitting .287 with three home runs and eight doubles in 28 games with Worcester this season.

Nick Sogard, who has become something of a super-utility man over the past couple years, has slightly more experience at first base - all of 45 innings in the minors - but has done work at first during warmups and fielding practice over the past couple of seasons.

Nathan Hickey will likely get the bulk of the playing time at first in Worcester given that they have Blake Sabol and Yasmani Grandal vying for at-bats at catcher, Hickey’s other position. Hickey’s bat presents a left-handed power option, but he also strikes out at a high clip.

Toro saw some time at first for the WooSox but got most of his starts at third base. He’s been one of Worcester’s best hitters all season, slashing .310/.403/.480 in 28 games.

“[Toro] definitely gives them a left-handed option, so in my opinion, it makes sense on a lot of levels,” Tracy said. “And he’s been one of our best hitters this year, very professional at-bats.”

Toro appeared in 94 games with the A’s last year and hit .240 with six homers, 17 doubles, 26 RBIs, a .293 on-base percentage and a .643 OPS.

“He played a heck of a lot more at first base in spring than he did third just because of how thin we were there,” Tracy added. “He handles himself around the bag receiving throws and looks comfortable.”

Mud Hens 7, WooSox 2

Playing in his first game since April 19, Trayce Thompson launched a two-run, 420-foot homer that left the bat at 109 mph. Unfortunately for the WooSox, that would be just about all the offense they could muster both before and after the one hour, 48-minute rain delay.

Brian Van Belle was touched for four runs on six hits in his 3 2/3 innings before the deluge. Jose De Leon made his organizational debut after being activated from the development list earlier this week and turned in 3 1/3 solid innings of work, allowing an unearned run on one hit and one walk and striking out five. He racked up 11 whiffs and averaged 92 mph on his fastball.

What’s Next

The WooSox finish the series - and the two-week homestand - on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. with Robert Stock on the hill for Worcester. After that, the WooSox embark on a two-week road trip starting against Lehigh Valley.