Nick Grande, a 17th round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the 2019 MLB Draft and 2018 All-American SS for Stony Brook University has decided to call it a career after one professional season. He made the announcement on our podcast Wednesday evening.
“It’s been a tough couple of months thinking about this but I have a great support system with unbelievable parents that support me in whatever I do and it kind of came down to the fact that I don’t have much left in the tank mentally or physically to go and do it again,” he said.”As I’ve mentioned, playing for Stony Brook was my dream. Obviously getting drafted is everybody’s dream–but playing for Stony Brook and doing well, that’s what meant the most for me. I didn’t expect it to come to an end this early, but it got to the point where if I’m not 100 percent committed to going back, it wouldn’t be fair to me or to the organization. I’m so appreciative of the experience and I don’t regret going and doing it but it was time for me to move on,” he said. Grande will finish his degree at Stony Brook in the spring before deciding what career he’d like to pursue.
The 21-year-old played the 2019 season with the Missoula Osprey and Hillsboro Hops, a total of 44 games. Prior to that, he was a finalist for the coveted Brooks Wallace Award, given to the top collegiate SS in the country. He batted .332 with a .945 OPS, 58 runs scored, .505 SLG, .440 OBP and 19 stolen bases.
He was a big reason–along with Michael Wilson and Brandon Alamo–that the Sea Wolves captured the 2019 America East Championship.
His season was actually a slight regression from his sophomore season in which he was named first-team All-American. He batted .377, with 6 HR, stole 32 bases, 22 multi-hit games and compiled 78 hits. We named him the 2018 Axcess Baseball’s Player of the Year among college players.
For anyone that will criticize Grande for his decision to walk away from professional baseball, I implore you to respect his decision. Nobody knows what is going through another individual’s head, or what they are going through. The grind of professional baseball is tedious and puts an incredible toll on the body not to mention relationships with friends and family. He had an outstanding career not only at Stony Brook but Smithtown West, and the decision is his to make.
We can say without a shadow of a doubt that his collegiate career was among the best that any Long Island player has produced this century and that can never be taken away from him.
Having known Nick for the past four years, I can say with 100 percent certainty that he’s not asking anyone to feel bad for him, and with his intellect, he will not only land on his feet but carve a great career for himself in another field.
Peter & Donna
Again, CONGRATULATIONS Nick on being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks……you do realize that only a very small percentage of college ball players make it that far ….you should feel very proud of yourself and what you’ve accomplished, as we all do…..and it must have been a tough decision to leave professional baseball after only one year, but we are all behind you 100% and only wish you the very best as you move forward in life…..Lots of Love, Your Florida Family