The Midweek Crisis: Grant the Destroyer

May 16, 2007

Piece this puzzle together: Hidden in the heartland of a rapidly growing region of California. Deceptively strong – masking his supernatural strength – and can outrun anything that comes across his territory.  

Meet Bakersfield’s reincarnation of Clark Kent:

Grant Desme.      

As the events of the June 7th MLB First-Year Player Draft start rapidly approaching, now is the time to move Grant Demse into that elite echelon of prospects. Getting the chance to cover the Big West Conference (editor’s note: Adam is the UC Davis baseball writer for The California Aggie), I’ve seen some of best collegiate hitters that the country has to offer, none of whom impressed me more than Grant Desme.  

Desme simply has it all. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound right fielder, Desme has had a statistical season that seems incomprehensible. In 195 at-bats against some of the best collegiate programs in the nation, Desme has posted an imposing .405/.494/.733 line, thanks in part to 15 home runs and 17 doubles.  

The numbers are absurd, but after seeing Desme in person, I’m more impressed with his tools and intangibles. A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Desme has proven himself as a legitimate five-tool talent — as endorsed by Jonathan Mayo of MiLB.com

Over the course of the three-game series, Desme went 9-for-12 and walked twice at the dish. The power was there, but his approach was even more impressive. On Friday night, Desme blasted a homer to deep center, but his three singles were what caught my attention. He was simply scattering the ball all across the yard, not trying to do too much with any one pitch. For a budding slugger, Desme’s approach was mature beyond his years.  

Warning: The following evening was ridiculous.  

Desme reached base seven times in seven trips in Saturday’s 12-inning, 10-9 showdown, including a walk-off home run – a mere four hours and 43 minutes after the game’s first pitch. 

There was nothing Desme couldn’t do on the field. A right fielder’s arm with a center fielder’s range, a pure athlete, an uncanny eye and discipline at the plate, and the sheer power to end it all at a moment’s notice. 

This past weekend, Grant Desme played like a true first rounder. If you happen to see your hometown Major League franchise select Desme in the upcoming entry draft, you have my permission to leap off the couch and yell in triumph because you’re getting one heck of a ball player. This is not a particularly strong class in the power hitters department, and Desme fits that mold perfectly.  

Grant Desme does it all, obliterating every obstacle in his path en route to success. We’re talking about one of the top draft-eligible college power hitters in the nation. 

Adam Loberstein is excited to watch Grant Desme realize his potential. Grasp your potential by emailing him at adamloberstein@gmail.com.