In baseball, a sport of very few action plays, patience is necessary to succeed. Junior right-handed pitcher Grant Taylor learned patience outside of baseball. Grant has been in the spotlight multiple times for his excellence on the field at Washington State University, from his high strikeout innings to complete games, he's excelled. But baseball wasn't his priority growing up.

Taylor's mother has been sick for quite some time, in and out of hospitals, and that has shifted his focus from baseball.

"She's why I wake up every morning and do what I do," Taylor said.."If she can do it, then why on earth can't I?"

Taylor said he finds balance day to day, but he feels like there's still more he needs to do. He strives to prove to himself and his family, especially his mom, that life will get better.
The culture WSU head coach Brian Green brings to his program, his team first, supportive environment, drew Taylor to New Mexico State, where Green coached before coming to WSU. Taylor said Green's promise to build that culture intrigued him.When Green and his entire coaching staff moved to WSU, Taylor followed them. Taylor values his connection with Green and the rest of the team.

Everything Taylor is known for revolves around baseball, baseball, baseball. But he has other interests.

"Outdoors, building stuff, creating something. I have a passion to get my hands dirty," he said.

Taylor credits those interests to his father. He said his dad's work ethic is what carved the way for his success up to this point.

"The way my dad has given me every opportunity to succeed pushes me to not let that go to waste," Taylor said.

Although Taylor wants to give himself every opportunity at a career he would enjoy after college, baseball is still his number one priority beyond graduation. Playing professionally has long been his dream and he's not willing to let that dream go. Taylor has two years of eligibility remaining and he wants to use every second of that eligibility to prove himself to the MLB scouts.

It's clear that there is more to Grant Taylor than just baseball. Taylor's mother is his inspiration to keep pushing and his father has been the engineer of his path to success, Taylor is sure that success will come. The question is in what? Keep an eye out for Grant Taylor, you will know his name, whether it's baseball or not.