Ben Grieve Joins ‘From Phenom To The Farm:’ Episode 49
“From Phenom to the Farm” releases new episodes every other Tuesday featuring players whose experiences vary across the professional baseball spectrum. Players will discuss their personal experiences going from high school graduation to the life of a professional baseball player.
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Had Ben Grieve’s career in baseball come around two decades later, the online noise around his on-field exploits and promise as a prospect would’ve been at nearly an unparalleled fervor compared to his peers—something Grieve is thankful wasn’t the case when he was a baseball star at Martin High in Arlington, Texas.
“Seeing how it is now, I would definitely prefer the way it was when I was in high school,” said Grieve. “Just a lot less stressful.”
Attention would’ve found its way to Grieve in some form regardless due to his baseball pedigree. His father Tom, a former 1st round pick of the Washington Senators, is to this day synonymous with Texas Rangers baseball—during Ben’s childhood the elder Grieve served as a color commentator and general manager for the franchise.
Ben had enough talent to where he’d have stood out on a baseball field even if his name was Ben Smith, but a dad working in baseball did come with certain perks.
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“I remember one time I was in a slump in high school, and he took me out to the Rangers field and the Rangers cages, and I had a hitting lesson with the Rangers hitting coach at the time, Tom Robinson,” said Grieve. “Being able to do stuff like that—it’s unique and special.”
Grieve didn’t slump often, and as the 1994 draft approached the outfielder was a consensus first round talent with a claim at being the best pure hitter in that year’s draft. Joining up with his father’s Rangers wasn’t in the cards, as the club had surrendered their 1st round pick by signing Will Clark in free agency, and Ben was expected to be long-gone by the time the team made their first selection.
Much like online noise, the draft also wasn’t the same sort of experience in 1994 as it is in present day. Not even the first round was televised, but Grieve was able to hear his name come off the board (2nd overall, to Oakland) in a way unlike other draftees.
“For the draft I was in the Rangers draft room,” said Grieve. “I got to hear the conference call of the actual draft, and got to hear my name picked live, so that was pretty cool.”
He signed right away and went to work, reaching Double-A at age 20 and the big leagues at 21, making his debut in September of 1997. Heading into the 1998 season, Baseball America named Grieve its #1 overall prospect, and while at the time that honor didn’t come with social media scrutiny, pressure was still attached.
“Being high up in the rankings, whether #1, or #5, or #10—everyone knows who those guys are,” said Grieve. “In the back of your mind you’re probably feeling a little bit more like you need to prove to everyone who’s watching that you deserve that ranking.”
Grieve would follow up that #1 overall ranking by winning American League Rookie of the Year en route to a nine year big league career.
On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’ former BA #1 overall prospect and 1998 A.L. Rookie of the Year Ben Grieve joins to discuss his career. He talks growing up with a dad who works in baseball, the pressure of being a top prospect, and playing during the steroid era.
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