Grant-Parks Signs with Rangers
CLEBURNE, Texas (March 18, 2021) – The Cleburne Railroaders announced Thursday catcher Blake Grant-Parks has signed with the Texas Rangers.
Grant-Parks was a fan-favorite with the Railroaders during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, hitting a combined .284 with four home runs. The right-handed hitter led Cleburne with a .312 average in 2018, but was limited by injuries to 42 games. The Railroaders re-acquired and signed Grant-Parks prior to the 2020 season, which he ultimately spent with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks after Cleburne’s 2020 season was cancelled. The 27-year-old slashed .244/.340/.390 in 15 games with the RedHawks, including a home run in his first at bat of the campaign.
Grant-Parks put together a career year with the New York Boulders of the Can-Am League in 2019, establishing new top marks in batting average (.327), on-base percentage (.375), and slugging percentage (.510) for an .885 OPS. Grant-Parks added career highs in walks (17), doubles (16), home runs (10), RBI (44) and runs scored (35). The 10 home runs doubled Grant-Park’s career total from his first five professional seasons.
Operating primarily as the Boulders designated hitter and backup catcher, Grant-Parks threw out eight of 48 opposing baserunners (17%) while committing seven errors for a .966 fielding percentage. The native of Yuba City, Calif., also played nine games in the outfield for Rockland and made four appearances on the mound, striking out six in five innings of work.
Prior to his time with Cleburne, Grant-Parks spent parts of three seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, splitting time between the Rays Gulf Coast League affiliate and Rookie-level Princeton. The 6’2, 200-pounder was a two-time draftee of the Tampa Bay organization, first out of Yuba City High School in the 28th round in 2011, and then again out of Cal State Monterey Bay in the 39th round in 2014. Grant-Parks began his college career at Sierra College in Rocklin, California before transferring to Monterey Bay for his junior season.
For information on partnerships, season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Railroaders main office at (817) 945-8705, or visit the Railroaders official website at www.railroaderbaseball.com.