Trent Grisham Stats & Scouting Report

AB	179
AVG	.19
OBP	.29
SLG	.385
HR	9

Full name Trenton Marcus Grisham
Born 11/01/1996 in Burleson, TX
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 224 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Richland
Debut 08/01/2019
Drafted in the 1st round (15th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 (signed for $2,700,000).

View Draft Report

Clark's batting grip is a little unorthodox. He eschews batting gloves and he holds his thumbs on the bat like he's gripping a golf club. It has always worked for him and few who have seen him doubt his ability to hit. One evaluator called him the best high school bat to come out of Texas in the past five years. He's battled blisters and ankle problems but has still managed to impress this spring, thanks to excellent bat speed and a long track record of performing both on the showcase circuit and internationally. Clark has 70 speed on the 20-to-80 scouting scale at his best, and unlike most of the rest of top of the prep outfield class, Clark should remain in center field for the long-term. He gets good jumps to go with his excellent speed and he has plenty of arm for center. He's already pretty well filled out physically. He projects as an above-average hitter with future average power. He has an excellent batting eye that allows him to draw walks. He could profile as a top-of-the-order table setter who can get on base and steal bases but he has enough pop to also end up in the middle of the lineup. Clark has impressed for years with his feel for the game, his leadership qualities and his knack for performing on the biggest stages. He's committed to Texas Tech.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Grisham, who used to go by the last name Clark, was considered one of the best prep hitters in the country when the Brewers drafted him in the first round in 2015, but he's never lived up to that as a pro. He put together a second straight uninspiring season in 2018, this time at Double-A Biloxi after the Brewers tried to challenge him.

Scouting Report: Grisham still is trying to find a consistent stroke at the plate. He has a good eye, drawing enough walks each season to produce a respectable OBP (.356 in 2018) but has shown little power while compiling low batting averages every season. Grisham often is too passive at the plate, taking good pitches and falling behind in the count, leading to too many strikeouts for a hitter of his supposed caliber. When he does choose to swing, he hits enough line drives to make you wonder if power eventually will come, but he also takes an alarming number of noncompetitive swings where he pulls off the ball. Grisham continues to play all three outfield positions, with his average speed and below-average arm fitting best in left field.

The Future: Grisham is still young enough to hope he will turn it around, but it's time for a big season that befits a first-round pick.
Grisham, who was drafted as Trent Clark and took his mother's maiden name after the 2017 season, scuffled through an injury-plagued first full season and wasn't much better at high Class A Carolina in 2017, hitting .223 with a 708 OPS. Grisham struggled to make consistent contact, striking out far too often with ugly swings and misses through hittable pitches in the strike zone. He did show a good eye at the plate, drawing 98 walks but had trouble getting comfortable while constantly tinkering with his batting stance. Grisham frequently pulls off the ball, nullifying his average raw power. It was obvious to many he was seeking a comfort zone, perhaps related to his switch from a golf-style grip to a more conventional grip of the bat. When he did get on base, he used his above-average speed to make things happen, with 37 steals in 42 attempts. That skill also helped in the outfield, where he handled all three positions while showing a fringe-average but accurate arm. Grisham's hitting mechanics have never been consistent, making him a shell of the player who was considered arguably top prep hitter in the 2015 draft. Grisham likely will be sent back to Carolina in 2018 and is still young enough to get on a proper path to the majors.
The Brewers regarded Clark as a steal when they selected the prep center fielder 15th overall in 2015, and after signing for $2.7 million he hit .309/.424/.430 at two Rookie-level stops. Assigned to low Class A Wisconsin in 2016, he failed to build on that success because he couldn't stay healthy. Clark suffered strained hamstrings twice and spent extensive time on the disabled list, curtailing his action to 59 games. Clark entered pro ball with an unorthodox golf-style batting grip in which he positions his thumbs along the bat, and after experimenting with a traditional grip he stuck with what works. That's because his short lefthanded swing produces consistent hard contact. He keeps his bat in the zone a long time and should develop average power with more experience. A good athlete who possesses above-average speed, Clark shows instincts on the bases and in center field, though hamstring issues had an obvious effect on his range. If he moves to a corner, his fringe-average arm would fit better in left field. Not only is he an advanced young hitter but Clark also shows leadership skills at a young age. Because Clark spent so much time on the DL in 2016, he might have to repeat the Midwest League. With so many center fielders ahead of Clark on the depth chart, the Brewers can afford to be patient. He has the potential for five average or better tools.
The Brewers were surprised to find Clark available at No. 15 in the 2015 draft. They ponied up $2.7 million, the second-highest bonus in club history,. Clark's first pro season nearly ended in his second game after he crashed headfirst into the center-field wall chasing a flyball; he escaped with a minor concussion and two black eyes. Clark has an unusual way of holding the bat, using more of a golf grip than a traditional baseball grip, but he makes it work. He is polished and mature for his age, showing bat speed, a real understanding of hitting and leadership skills. He understands the strike zone and is tough to whiff. At times, he can be too patient and take good pitches, but he became more aggressive as his debut progressed. Clark should develop power as he matures and gains experience. He worked on shortening a swing that got long at times and did a good job of keeping his bat in the hitting zone longer. He is an above-average runner who steals bases with relative ease and shows plus range in center field. He adds accuracy to solid arm strength, which should deter baserunners from testing him. A potential five-tool talent, Clark looked so smooth in a 12-game trial at Rookie-level Helena that he probably will head to low Class A Wisconsin at the outset of 2016.

Draft Prospects

Clark's batting grip is a little unorthodox. He eschews batting gloves and he holds his thumbs on the bat like he's gripping a golf club. It has always worked for him and few who have seen him doubt his ability to hit. One evaluator called him the best high school bat to come out of Texas in the past five years. He's battled blisters and ankle problems but has still managed to impress this spring, thanks to excellent bat speed and a long track record of performing both on the showcase circuit and internationally. Clark has 70 speed on the 20-to-80 scouting scale at his best, and unlike most of the rest of top of the prep outfield class, Clark should remain in center field for the long-term. He gets good jumps to go with his excellent speed and he has plenty of arm for center. He's already pretty well filled out physically. He projects as an above-average hitter with future average power. He has an excellent batting eye that allows him to draw walks. He could profile as a top-of-the-order table setter who can get on base and steal bases but he has enough pop to also end up in the middle of the lineup. Clark has impressed for years with his feel for the game, his leadership qualities and his knack for performing on the biggest stages. He's committed to Texas Tech.

Minor League Top Prospects

Grisham moved up from Double-A on June 20 and laid waste to the PCL. His 104 total bases, 13 home runs and .776 slugging percentage all ranked second in the league from the time he joined until his Aug. 1 callup. Grisham had more walks (23) than strikeouts (22) with his keen knowledge of the strike zone. A more aggressive approach resulted in a power spike—his 26 home runs in the minors this year more than tripled his previous career high of eight. Grisham is an above-average runner underway despite his thick frame and can play all three outfield positions. How well he maintains his power will determine his future.
The 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Clark failed to build on a solid pro debut in the MWL this season. His full-season debut began with disappointment when Clark stayed back in extended spring training, per the Brewers' game plan. Clark was disappointed with the decision and then got hurt a couple of weeks after joining Wisconsin on May 9. A hamstring injury and then a recurrence of that issue limited him to just 59 games. Clark had trouble overcoming the adversity of not being fully healthy as well as dealing with better breaking-ball spin from more advanced pitchers. He hit just .231 with a poor strikeout rate, yet he did draw walks at an elite level for the MWL. The Brewers were encouraged with how he worked counts, despite his struggles, and his consistently upbeat approach. At his best, Clark is a potential five-tool talent, with average hitting and power potential and above-average speed and range in center field.
Clark's season nearly ended before it could really begin. The 18-year-old center fielder, who signed for $2.7 million, crashed head first into the center-field wall in the first inning of his second pro game. He wound up with a concussion that kept him out of the lineup for two weeks and gave him a couple of shiners that lasted well into the summer. It didn't take long after returning to the lineup for Clark to show off his five-tool skills--he hit for the cycle in his fifth game back. Clark is very polished for his age and already shows good leadership skills on the field. "Some of the things you hear in the game when he's in the outfield talking to other outfielders is very unique for a young kid like that," Royals manager Darryl Kennedy said. Clark puts together good at-bats and has a good idea of the strike zone. He was a little too passive early in the season, taking good pitches, but became more aggressive as the season progressed. He also worked on shortening his swing and staying longer in the strike zone. An above-average runner with an above-average arm, Clark should be able to stay in the middle of the outfield. His arm is accurate and he gets good carry on the ball. He's a smart baserunner who gets good jumps on the bases.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018

Scouting Reports

Grisham moved up from Double-A on June 20 and laid waste to the PCL. His 104 total bases, 13 home runs and .776 slugging percentage all ranked second in the league from the time he joined until his Aug. 1 callup. Grisham had more walks (23) than strikeouts (22) with his keen knowledge of the strike zone. A more aggressive approach resulted in a power spike—his 26 home runs in the minors this year more than tripled his previous career high of eight. Grisham is an above-average runner underway despite his thick frame and can play all three outfield positions. How well he maintains his power will determine his future.
Background: The Brewers regarded Clark as a steal when they selected the prep center fielder 15th overall in 2015, and after signing for $2.7 million he hit .309/.424/.430 at two Rookie-level stops. Assigned to low Class A Wisconsin in 2016, he failed to build on that success because he couldn't stay healthy. Clark strained hamstrings twice and played just 59 games. Scouting Report: Clark entered pro ball with an unorthodox, golf-style batting grip in which he positions his thumbs along the bat, and after experimenting with a traditional grip he stuck with what works. That's because his short swing produces consistent hard contact. He keeps his bat in the zone a long time and should develop average power with more experience. A good athlete who possesses above-average speed, Clark shows instincts on the bases and in center field, though hamstring issues had an obvious effect on his range. If he moves to a corner, his fringe-average arm would fit better in left field. Not only is he an advanced young hitter but Clark also shows leadership skills at a young age.

The Future: Because Clark spent so much time on the DL in 2016, he might have to repeat the Midwest League. With so many center fielders ahead of Clark on the depth chart, the Brewers can afford to be patient. He has the potential for five average or better tools.