Grant Green (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Grant Green is an American professional baseball
shortstop
in the Oakland Athletics
organization. He was drafted on June 9, 2009, in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft
as the 13th overall selection. He played college baseball at USC.
in Anaheim
, California
.
As a high school sophomore, Green batted .430 (31-for-72) with eight doubles and 22 RBI. In his junior season, he batted .455 (40-for-88) with three home runs, 30 RBI and 14 stolen bases, a performance he duplicated as a senior when he batted .453 with four home runs, 22 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. Green earned first team honors from the California Interscholastic Federation
and the Orange County Register. After his senior season, he was the 14th-round draft choice of the San Diego Padres
, but he opted to attend USC instead.
Green also experienced success with the 2005 U.S. Junior National Team. He batted .412 with six RBI and two stolen bases at the 2005 Pan-Am Championships.
As a sophomore in 2008, Green batted .390 (80-for-205) with nine home runs, 46 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He was named a member of Baseball America
's All-America third team and also earned All-Pacific-10 Conference honors.
Before Green's junior season, Baseball America
rated him as the third best college prospect in the nation. However, Green's junior season began slowly, as he was batting only .234 after 13 games. However, he turned in an impressive performance by season's end, batting .374 (79-for-211) overall, with four home runs, 32 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He led the Trojans with a .435 on-base percentage and 26 multi-hit games.
In summer 2008, Green played in the wooden-bat Cape Cod Baseball League
and was honored by the league as its top pro prospect. He was among the league leaders in most offensive categories but struggled defensively, committing 17 errors in 41 games.
, both Green and the A's have stated a desire for him to remain at shortstop. Green is advised by high-profile sports agent Scott Boras
. He signed a contract with a signing bonus of $2.75 million on August 17, 2009 just minutes before the deadline to sign draft picks passed.
. To start the 2010 season, Green is rated as Oakland's third best prospect according to Baseball America
and was a non-roster invitee to big league camp in spring training as part of his contract. He spent the entire season at Stockton and was named to the Futures Games. Green played in the Arizona Fall League
in 2010. The season was spent with the AA Midland RockHounds
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
organization. He was drafted on June 9, 2009, in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft
2009 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.The drafting order is as follows:-First-round selections:Key-Supplemental first-round selections:From Baseball America...
as the 13th overall selection. He played college baseball at USC.
High school career
Green played baseball at Canyon High SchoolCanyon High School (Anaheim, California)
Canyon High School is a traditional four-year high school located in the Anaheim Hills community in the city of Anaheim, California and is an International Baccalaureate school. It is located on of land on Imperial Highway between the cross streets of Santa Ana Canyon Road and Nohl Ranch Road, and...
in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
As a high school sophomore, Green batted .430 (31-for-72) with eight doubles and 22 RBI. In his junior season, he batted .455 (40-for-88) with three home runs, 30 RBI and 14 stolen bases, a performance he duplicated as a senior when he batted .453 with four home runs, 22 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. Green earned first team honors from the California Interscholastic Federation
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
and the Orange County Register. After his senior season, he was the 14th-round draft choice of the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, but he opted to attend USC instead.
Green also experienced success with the 2005 U.S. Junior National Team. He batted .412 with six RBI and two stolen bases at the 2005 Pan-Am Championships.
College career
Green started every game for the Trojans as a true freshman in 2007. He batted .316 (72-for-228) with two home runs, 14 doubles, 24 RBI and six stolen bases. Green collected several postseason honors, including Pac-10 Conference Co-Freshman of the Year.As a sophomore in 2008, Green batted .390 (80-for-205) with nine home runs, 46 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He was named a member of Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
's All-America third team and also earned All-Pacific-10 Conference honors.
Before Green's junior season, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
rated him as the third best college prospect in the nation. However, Green's junior season began slowly, as he was batting only .234 after 13 games. However, he turned in an impressive performance by season's end, batting .374 (79-for-211) overall, with four home runs, 32 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He led the Trojans with a .435 on-base percentage and 26 multi-hit games.
In summer 2008, Green played in the wooden-bat Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
and was honored by the league as its top pro prospect. He was among the league leaders in most offensive categories but struggled defensively, committing 17 errors in 41 games.
2009 Draft
As the 2009 baseball draft approached, Green was very highly regarded among experts, who expected him to be drafted high in the first round. Although some scouts have projected him as a future third basemanThird baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, both Green and the A's have stated a desire for him to remain at shortstop. Green is advised by high-profile sports agent Scott Boras
Scott Boras
Scott Boras is an American sports agent, specializing in baseball. He is the founder, owner and president of the Boras Corporation, a sports agency based in Newport Beach, Calif. that represents roughly 175 professional baseball clients, including many of the game's highest-profile players...
. He signed a contract with a signing bonus of $2.75 million on August 17, 2009 just minutes before the deadline to sign draft picks passed.
Professional career
Green played in 5 minor league games during the 2009 season, all at Single-A StocktonStockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Their home field is Banner Island Ballpark which seats over 5,000 people and opened in...
. To start the 2010 season, Green is rated as Oakland's third best prospect according to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
and was a non-roster invitee to big league camp in spring training as part of his contract. He spent the entire season at Stockton and was named to the Futures Games. Green played in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
in 2010. The season was spent with the AA Midland RockHounds
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
.