The Red Sox optioned Vaughn Grissom to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday with his 20-day rehab clock expiring.

Grissom was considered a top acquisition this past offseason when Boston obtained him from the Atlanta Braves for starting pitcher Chris Sale. He was expected to be the everyday starting second baseman. But injuries to both hamstrings and ineffectiveness offensively have derailed his 2024 season.

The 23-year-old spent the first 32 games of the regular season on the IL with a left hamstring strain after suffering the injury early in spring training. He then went just 12-for-81 (.148) with a .207 on-base percentage, .160 slugging percentage and one extra-base hit in 23 games for Boston before again landing on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He missed 54 games on his latest IL stint. The Red Sox reinstated him from the IL, then optioned him to Worcester.

He has slugged very little this year between the majors and Triple A.

He has batted .259 with a .362 on-base percentage, .333 slugging percentage, .695 OPS, one homer, three doubles, 10 RBIs, six runs, 12 walks, 20 strikeouts and five stolen bases in 22 games (94 plate appearances) at Worcester.

Manager Alex Cora has mentioned that Grissom wasn’t healthy during Winter Ball in Puerto Rico and the Red Sox were not informed.

“We need this kid to get stronger,” Cora said July 11. “That’s the most important thing. I don’t think what we saw is the real Vaughn Grissom. I think there’s more there.

“The offseason was different,” Cora added back then. “I know he played down there at one point in Puerto Rico and at one point, I don’t think he was healthy, which is a shame. If your players get hurt in winter ball, your job (as the winter league team) should be to tell the organization that’s what’s going on. But that’s another topic. I’ll take care of that back home.”

While Grissom has struggled, Sale leads the NL in ERA (2.75), FIP (2.24) and ERA+ (152).