Trent Grisham Starting To Come Of Age

This is what the Brewers had in mind when they made Trent Grisham the 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft.

Known as Trent Clark when he was drafted out of his Texas high school, Grisham has been the breakout star of the Brewers’ farm system this season. If that sounds strange for a former first-round pick, just know that there were growing doubts about his future prior to 2019.

Grisham began this season back at Double-A Biloxi, where he struggled last year. In 107 games with the Shuckers in 2018, the lefthanded-hitting outfielder slashed .233/.356/.337 with just seven home runs and 31 RBIs. At that point of his career, Grisham had played in 354 minor league games, batting a modest .242 with 19 home runs and 121 RBIs.

All of this made 2019 an important season if he wanted to play his way back into top prospect status.

Still just 22 years old, Grisham discovered his power upon returning to Biloxi this season, smacking 13 home runs and posting a .510 slugging percentage over his first 64 games. The Brewers decided he was ready for Triple-A San Antonio, where he continued to knock balls out of the park.

In his first 25 games with the Missions, covering 98 at-bats, Grisham drilled 10 more home runs with a .736 slugging percentage. For the season, Grisham has hit an organization-best 23 home runs through his first 88 games with a .965 OPS.

Despite flashing much more power than he’d previously shown, Grisham did not lose his plate discipline. Through his first 89 games across two levels, Grisham has drawn 56 walks while striking out just 65 times through 334 at-bats.

“Trent has flashed good power at times in his career, but the frequency he is showing this year is certainly a tremendous development,” Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan said. “He has been pushed at a young age, from level to level, which presented him with challenges every year. Even though he returned to Biloxi to start this year, he was still just 22 years old.

“I think this is simply a good hitter coming of age at the upper levels of the minor leagues. He has always shown good knowledge of the strike zone, and this year he has combined that skill with more of an aggressive approach.”

MICROBREWS

— SS Mauricio Dubon made his debut with the Brewers on July 7 in Pittsburgh, and though his stay lasted only two games before he returned to Triple-A San Antonio, he became the first native Honduran to make it to the big leagues.

— RHP Trey Supak has twice come within one out of pitching a no-hitter this season with Double-A Biloxi, once in a nine-inning game and the other in a seven-inning contest. Both times, he allowed a base hit with two outs in the game’s final inning.