Oakland A's top prospect ditches baseball -- for the priesthood

[Auggie]

ESPN.com news services/January 22, 2010

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland Athletics prospect Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to enter the priesthood.

Desme was selected the 2009 Arizona Fall League MVP and was considered one of the top prospects in Oakland's system.

The 23-year-old outfielder batted .288 with 31 homers, 89 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 131 games at Class-A Kane County and Stockton last season. He then hit .315 with a league-leading 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 27 games in the fall league.

Desme said he'd been thinking about the priesthood for a year and a half. "It took me a while to get to," he said on a conference call Friday.

MORE: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4849432

__________________

At least he didn't end up with the Angels.

[MaineDem]

1. "At least he didn't end up with the Angels."

Well, in a sense...

[Captain Hilts]

5. If he had, he might have stayed in the game...nt

[joeybee12]

2. Initially I thought he might be doing this because he wants to do some good...

...then I saw that he spends his time reading the Bible.

[Onceuponalife]

3. Goddamnit do we really need another Tim Tebow?n/t

[Auggie]

4. You'll never hear from this guy again...

unless he becomes Pope. His 15 minutes are up.

[madinmaryland]

6. Tebow dumps the Raiders to preach to the heathens in Frisco?

:hide:

[El Supremo]

7. Nice post upton4!

[madinmaryland]

8. Thanks, madinmaryland17!

[El Supremo]

9. Ain't me.

Like I have the time to post on other boards?

Probably is Forkboy.

[Yavin4]

10. He Could Still Be A Padre

wakka wakka wakka wakka

[Auggie]

11. +1

Verrrrrry clever