Top Prospect Quits Baseball for Priesthood

Longtime scout's take on Grant Desme: 'Oh my God! Holy smokes!'
By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 22, 2010 8:50 PM CST
Top Prospect Quits Baseball for Priesthood
Oakland Athletics prospect Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to enter the priesthood, Desme announced today.   (AP Photo/Oakland Athletics)

One of the top outfield prospects in the Oakland Athletics organization is giving up his shot at fame and fortune to enter the Catholic priesthood—a decision that got this reaction from one longtime scout: “Oh my God! Holy smokes!” “Baseball is a good thing, but that felt selfish of me when I felt that God was calling me more,” says Grant Desme, 23. “I love the game, but I’m going to aspire to higher things.”

Oakland executives had nothing but, ahem, praise for Desme, the MVP of the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Another scout tells the San Francisco Chronicle: “During this time in baseball when there’s so much lying and selfishness and hypocrisy, I’ve got to say I think this is very refreshing. This is someone who has his priorities intact. God bless him.”
(More Grant Desme stories.)

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