Outfielder Grant Desme, one of the Oakland A’s top prospects, has decided to retire from baseball in order to pursue the priesthood, multiple sources told FOXSports.com.
An A’s official confirmed Desme’s decision this morning, saying the 23-year-old is “serious” about the big career change.
Desme is leaving baseball at a time when his fortunes seemed to be rising fast. He batted .288 with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs in 131 games last year. Then he starred in the Arizona Fall League, where some of the game’s top prospects compete each year.
Baseball America ranked Desme as the team’s 8th-best prospect after the season. He seemed likely to play at Class AA in 2010.
Desme, a Bakersfield, Calif., native, was the 2007 Big West Player of the Year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
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