Grant Desme Stats & Scouting Report

AB	643
AVG	.291
OBP	.373
SLG	.575
HR	44

Full name Gregory Grant Desme
Born 04/04/1986 in San Luis Obispo, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Drafted in the 2nd round (74th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2007 (signed for $432,000).

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After flying up draft boards early in the spring due to a power display and a lack of college bats elsewhere in the nation, Desme broke a bone in his wrist late in the season. He played shortstop in high school and went to San Diego State as a freshman but transferred after one year to Cal Poly, which tried him in the infield but moved him to an outfield corner. He's athletic enough for either corner and has an adequate arm for right; he has also played some first base. Desme's a solid athlete, average runner and defender who could still fly off the board early because of his above-average raw power and excellent bat speed. He had a streaky season en route to leading the Big West in the triple crown categories, surprising to scouts because he has a tendency to swing and miss, particularly at breaking balls.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Desme broke a bone in his wrist late in the 2007 college season, then separated his shoulder in minor league camp in 2008 and wasn't fully healthy again until last spring. He showed off his all-around talents at two Class A stops, becoming the only 30-30 player in the minors last year. He continued his torrid play in the Arizona Fall League, hitting a league-leading 11 home runs and winning MVP honors. Desme has average to plus tools across the board. He has a quick bat and good leverage, providing power to all fields. A good athlete with average speed, his instincts allowed him to steal 40 bases and play mostly center field in 2009. He also has the arm strength for right field. He also earns praise for his leadership. Desme has trouble with pitch recognition and breaking balls, leading to 148 strikeouts last season and questions as to how much he'll hit for average. He'll lapse into trying to do too much at the plate and overswing. He needs to improve his routes on balls in the outfield, and he'll probably wind up on a corner in the long run. If Desme can make more consistent contact, he could bat in the heart of Oakland's lineup in a couple of years. For now, he'll advance to Double-A and try to keep his momentum going from 2009.
Desme had helium heading into the 2007 draft, but a broken bone in his wrist late in his college season curtailed his momentum. The A's were high enough on him to make him a second-round pick, but injuries thus far have limited him to 49 pro at-bats. His wrist flared up again soon after he made his pro debut, leading to offseason surgery. In minor league camp last spring, he separated his left shoulder trying to make a diving catch and got just three at-bats all year. When healthy, Desme generates plus power with good leverage in his swing and excellent bat speed. Though he's a good athlete, his speed is better suited for an outfield corner. He has the arm strength to play right field. The A's hope he'll be healthy enough to return for the start of the 2009, as they've seen little of what he's capable of as a pro.
Desme was zooming up draft boards in the spring until he broke a bone in his wrist late in the college season. He still went in the second round, where he signed for $432,000. He played shortstop in high school and during his freshman year of college at San Diego State before transferring to Cal Poly, where he moved to the outfield. Desme's best tool is plus raw power. He hit 23 homers and 29 doubles in two seasons for the Mustangs, has tremendous bat speed and gets good leverage in his swing. Desme is one of the better athletes in the system, but doesn't run well enough to play center field. He's destined for either corner, and his arm strength should be enough for right. Desme wore down in his pro debut, and things got worse when his wrist flared up. He also sustained a nagging shoulder injury and missed the bulk of instructional league. The missed time likely means Desme begins 2008 in low Class A, but he could move quickly if he's healthy.

Minor League Top Prospects

Wrist and shoulder injuries stalled Desme's career for two years before he broke out in 2009 as the only 30-30 man in minor league baseball. He totaled 31 homers and 40 steals between the Midwest and high Class A California leagues. Desme stands out most for his power, which he generates with a quick bat and nice leverage. He struggles with breaking balls and pitch recognition, which may prevent him from hitting for a high average and explains why he struck out nearly four times as much as he walked. He's similar to Russell as a hitter but has the disadvantage of batting righthanded. Though he stole 24 bases in as many attempts in the MWL, Desme is more of an average runner with good instincts than a speedster. He played mostly center field this season but his range and reads are just average, so he projects more as a right fielder with a solid arm. "He's proven he can hit for power, hit for average, steal bases," Kane County manager Steve Scarsone said. "He's a smart defensive player. He's a well-rounded, intelligent player. I look forward to seeing how he progresses."
Desme had a breakout 2007 season at Cal Poly and was playing his way into the first round before he broke a bone in his wrist shortly before the draft. A flareup of the wrist problem and a separated shoulder limited him to 49 pro at-bats in his first two years as a pro. When he finally stayed healthy this year, he finished with 31 homers and 40 steals between two Class A stops, making him the only 30-30 man in the minors. Desme has average to plus tools across the board. Modesto manager Jerry Weinstein is very familiar with him after coaching him at Cal Poly, and said the time Desme lost set him back in terms of pitch recognition, which led to 148 strikeouts this season. Making consistent contact and adding defensive polish are the biggest questions with Desme, who probably will move from center field to a corner in the future. "His fielding was a bit shaky, but he has improved and it should reach average," Weinstein said. "He projects to a 60 arm with 60 speed, so he fits in right field. His hitting and power both profile to above average, and his raw power is 60 now. He needs to just get at bats and continue to improve."