Grant Desme

Gregory Grant Desme (born April 4, 1986, in Bakersfield, California) is an American professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. Desme was a junior right fielder at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, when he was drafted in 2007 by the Oakland Athletics.[2] After a 30-30 2009 season in the minors and being named Arizona Fall League MVP, Desme retired.[3] Desme came out of retirement in 2018 to play with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Grant Desme
Free agent
Center fielder
Born: (1986-04-04) April 4, 1986
Bakersfield, California[1]
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Amateur career

High school

He attended Stockdale High School in Bakersfield and was an all-area selection as a junior and senior. He was first-team selectee for the Southwest Yosemite League (SWYL). As a senior, he was co-Most Valuable Player of the SWYL.[1]

College

He started his college career at San Diego State University.[1] He transferred to Cal Poly, where he was named 2007 Big West Conference Player of the Year.[4]

Professional career

Oakland Athletics

Desme began his professional baseball career with the Short-Season Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League in 2007. Desme was selected in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft before being assigned to the Canadians.[5] He batted .261 with three doubles, one home run, six RBIs and two stolen bases in 12 games. The next season, 2008, he only played two games after he injured his wrist in 2007 and his shoulder the next year.[6] In 2009, Desme had an extraordinary season. He hit a combined .288 with 31 doubles, six triples, 31 home runs, 89 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 131 games with the Class-A Kane County Cougars and the Class-A Advanced Stockton Ports.

On January 22, 2010, it was reported that Desme planned to retire from professional baseball and study to become a priest. He said this about his situation:

I was doing well at baseball. But I really had to get down to the bottom of things - I love the game, but I aspire to higher things. I wasn't at peace where I was at. I have no regrets.

— Grant Desme, BBC News: January 22, 2010.[7]

He took the name Matthew Desme of the Norbertine Order.[8] He said he found great peace in the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience.[9]

Lancaster Barnstormers

On May 22, 2018, Desme came out of retirement to join the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[10] He is serving as the head baseball coach at Ave Maria University. He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

References
  1. "Baseball: Grant Desme: Profile". CBS Interactive (San Diego State Aztec Athletics official website). Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  2. "2007 DraftTracker". MLB.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  3. "Grant Desme Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  4. Walker, Ben (January 23, 2010). "Highly touted Athletics prospect Grant Desme retires from baseball to enter priesthood". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. Associated Press. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  5. "Cal Poly's Grant Desme picked by Oakland A's in second round". sanluisobispo.com. June 7, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  6. Urban, Mychael (March 15, 2008). "Minor League Report: New arrivals". Major League Baseball. mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  7. "Oakland baseball prospect quits to join priesthood". BBC News. January 23, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  8. Passan, Jeff (September 27, 2012). "From prospect to priest: Grant Desme leaves the A's, becomes a monk and tries to find his peace". Yahoo.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  9. Beattie, Trent (April 8, 2012). "Ex-Baseball Phenom Discusses Life in a Norbertine Abbey". National Catholic Register. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  10. "Former Top Prospect Desme Signs with Barnstormers". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
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