Grant Desme
Gregory Grant Desme
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
- School California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, San Diego State University
- High School Stockdale High School
- Born April 4, 1986 in Bakersfield, CA USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Grant Desme retired from baseball at age 23 while a prospect to become a priest.
Desme hit .267/.316/.371 in 2005 as a freshman at San Diego State University. Transferring to Cal Poly, he batted .287/.349/.482 in 2006. In 2007, he had an amazing year, hitting .405/.494/.733 with 15 homers, 53 RBI and 12 steals (in 15 tries) despite missing 6 games with a fractured wrist. He led the Big West Conference in average, slugging, OBP and homers; the Cal Poly website mistakenly listed him as leading in RBI as well to take a Triple Crown. He was named the BWC Player of the Year. Baseball America named him a first-team All-American outfielder alongside Kyle Russell and Kellen Kulbacki. He was also named second-team All-American by other sources. The Oakland Athletics took him in the second round of the 2007 amateur draft with a pick that was compensation for the loss of Barry Zito to free agency. He was scouted by Rick Magnante.
Desme hit .261/.358/.391 for the 2007 Vancouver Canadians in his pro debut. In 2008, he went 1 for 3 with two runs for the AZL Athletics in his only action due to a separated shoulder.
Desme had his last year in 2009 and it was a big one. He hit .288/.365/.568 between the Stockton Ports (.304/.398/.656 in 62 G) and the Kane County Cougars (.274/.334/.490 in 69 G). Overall, he blasted 31 home runs with 98 runs, 89 RBI and 40 steals in 45 tries. He was the only 30-30 player in the affiliated minors that season. Baseball America named him the #8 prospect in the A's chain. Grant then was named MVP of the elite Arizona Fall League after leading the loop in homers (11) while finishing second in slugging, RBI (27, 1 behind Corey Brown) and runs (30, 1 behind leader Jordan Danks). He hit .315/.413/.667 for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.
In January 2010, Desme announced he was retiring to become a priest. He said that the time off due to injuries in 2008 had helped him gain perspective on life.
Desme spent three years (2018-2020) as head coach at Ave Maria University.
Further Reading[edit]
- Tracy Ringolsby: "Prospect to priesthood: Desme discusses decision", mlb.com, March 5, 2016. [1]
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