"How much your story has impacted me and the way I go about my everyday business. Every story you have to tell, everybody is willing to listen and at the end of the story everyone is so motivated and in awe about how you keep your attitude and your work ethic and how you strive to be the best you can be everyday. Looking forward to hearing more about it, keeping up with it and knowing you always come out stronger than you were the day before."
CHRIS OKEY, CINCINNATI REDS
"When I think about your story, one word sticks out to me and that is perseverance. Man you have persevered through a lot of stuff that not many people have and not many people could. It's just been inspiring to watch how you have taken all of these traumatic things that have happened in your life, that easily could've just derailed your life but you have used them to help inspire others and you have given God glory through it all. I am just thankful for what you are doing, I know you have inspired me and you have touched many other people's lives. I just want to say I am proud to be your friend, I'm thankful for you and I love you."
ELI WHITE, TEXAS RANGERS
"I spent three year with Grant, he is one of my best friends and we had a great and fun three years but what wasn't fun was seeing him go through his injuries and his surgeries. But seeing him deal with those hard times, the best part about it was seeing him bounce back from each one, doing his best to get through it and helping others although his career was slated because of an injury. Seeing his intense desire and passion and that resonates with me even now, I use his passion, I look back and I go, Grant had it hard and still has it hard so I don’t have any excuses because he would want to be where I am, and he would be if the roles were reversed."
RYLEY GILLIAM, NEW YORK METS
"I want you to know how much your story inspires me, your perseverance, resilience and desire to get better everyday and not let your struggles define you. You inspire everyone you touch and I admire that about you and it makes me want to be a better person everyday to not take anything for granted and just live life to the fullest and just be the best person I can be. I value you as a friend and love you very much and can’t wait to continue our relationship and continue seeing you touch other people."
DOC REDMAN, PGA TOUR
"It was tough to see baseball get swept out from under you as quick as it did but the way you have handled the adversity and dealt with the situation is pretty awesome to see. You always inspire everybody around you and left a positive impact on the ones that you have come across. Everyone always has something positive to say about you, you always seem to light up the room whenever you walk in it. Just keep doing your thing, hang in there, keep inspiring. Keep being that positive role model."
DANIEL JOHNSON
"How special your story is and I just think its going to show people the courage and strength you’ve had and the adversities you have had to overcome throughout the course of your career at Clemson and I think it’s going to do something special to see and understand. This guy has come through a lot, it’s just a testimony that anybody can get through anything and you are somebody that I look to when it comes to that stuff and I believe this story is going to be something special."
SETH BEER, ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
"I'm so proud of you for overcoming everything that you have gone through and keeping that positive mindset throughout life. Hit after hit you just keep getting up and pushing forward and being outspoken about it and making other people better being around you. You're a special friend and I am lucky to call you a friend and I just want to say keep pushing man you have a great story, people listen to you so just keep pushing."
REED ROHLMAN, KANSAS CITY ROYALS
"All the obstacles that Grant has had to overcome, obviously most of us know about his physical injuries and everything that he has had to deal with since high school. He's been on the map for baseball and had all the opportunities in the world that he earned. He had to deal with a lot of injuries that he couldn’t really help along the way that sidelined him and ultimately ended his baseball career. He's been able to keep his head held high through it all and dealing with everything that happened to Luke as well and has encouraged others through it all. Wow."
BED PEDEN, FORMER CITADEL BASEBALL PLAYER
"I love you brother, known each other since we were seven years old. You worked so hard to be a Clemson baseball player and you had that taken from you. That tragedy would have taken you down with it but you turned it into something beautiful. You're making a difference in people's lives and I am proud of you and your family is proud of you, Luke is looking down on you proud of you. When I am having a bad day, I can think of everything that you have gone through and how you turned it into a positive and it just helps me push through and to know that I can make a difference in people's lives no matter what is going on. You have given me that. There is always a bigger plan up above. Luke Strong."
CODY MITCHELL
"Checking in from Australia. Your story means so much to me. For someone who was dealt a very tough hand, you have turned this negative into a positive in ways that I wish I could if I was in your shoes. I always kept in the back of my mind whenever I was having a tough day or whenever it was tough to get in for practice, I always thought about you and how lucky I am to have the opportunity to play baseball and even step out on the field and lace up. I know how much you wanted it and I know how much you worked for it. You put your whole life into something and for reasons out of your control it gets taken out of your hands. You played a huge part in my baseball career later on and I just want you to know how much that meant to me and how you never let anything stop you. You always showed up to the field with a smile on your face, you showed up early, you stayed late and always picking guys up. It killed me sometimes seeing you out there and seeing how much you cared about us and not being able to be out there on that field. It always meant a lot you just being there supporting us."
PATRICK CROMWELL
"You've been through so much in your life in such a short time. I feel like I know as well as anybody that has gone through things that it's not about what you go through its about how you respond to it. You've been able to respond incredibly and I look up to you because of that. Keep making this world a better place. God, love, peace."
CHRIS SINGLETON, FORMER PRO FOR CHICAGO CUBS, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
"He's been my homie ever since we came into school together. You really inspired me because once I stepped on campus I knew it was going to be good because he is just full of energy and his work ethic was inspiring. Obviously through college, no one is perfect and you make mistakes and things like that but Grant was always that guy that could keep you up, make you laugh, whether you were going through anything, Grant was the one to always put a smile on your face. Just seeing how through his life and his experiences he has become a token of inspiration for so many people at Clemson and now it’s just starting to spread all around. For me, it has just been inspiring to see his attitude and his mental toughness. Someone like Grant, whose attitude was always good even when it seemed like everything was going against him but Grant never ever settled and his attitude was always positive and his level of enthusiasm is something that I always admired. You would never know that something was going on with him, people would never know and I am thankful that he had the courage to tell his story because many people need to hear it. His perseverance and his continued fight is admirable."
CLELIN FERRELL, OAKLAND RAIDERS
"I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to room with Grant starting freshman year at Clemson. Right away, it was nothing but laughs and good times. Today, I'm lucky enough to still consider him to be one of my best friends. To watch what he has had to go through is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. For a guy that was as talented as Grant was on the field, as committed to the game as he was and still is in so many ways, and as energetic as anyone I've ever seen, I don't think there could be anything worse than what he has endured since freshman year. His consistent energy and attitude through it all is eye-opening. It never fails to make others feel as if they are the most important people in the world. He carries a smile on his face always and in turn, the people around him automatically follow suit. "Beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences". That quote couldn't represent Grant anymore accurately. He's a light in a lot of people's world and it has been a privilege to be able to share my life with him and be by his side as he goes through his. Keep going, Grant! Love you, brother!"
JAKE HIGGINBOTHAM, ATLANTA BRAVES
“My man, roommate, best friend, the endless support. Coming from California out of juco, I didn’t know anyone on the team. But I vividly remember the open arms I received from you when I was looking for people to become friends with and hang out outside of the baseball field. You knew I was nervous and a little shy but you made me feel like I was part of the circle immediately. We’ve shared so many memories at the baseball field, at each other’s houses and so on. It’s not a coincidence that I became such great friends with you and eventually brothers with you. You have an infectious energy that brings out the best in people, a smile and laugh that brings a smile to anyone’s face.l There’s never a dull moment with you. Not only that but the support you provide for friends in need is unmatched. There were too many times that you had to face unfair adversity and no one could have handled it as good as you. You took that experience and helped everyone who needed it, myself included. You were there for me in my darkest times. A time where I was unsure about life and my future with baseball. You pushed me forward and kept my head up. I look back at those times and I’m incredibly thankful to have had you by my side picking me up. I love you man and I look up to you every day. You do so much for the people around you and I admire your love for serving others.”
CHRIS WILLIAMS, MINNESOTA TWINS
“Grant was a beast, man, plain and simple. Speed, well it was something like if a Mustang met a Cadillac. His arm was live and accurate. But he was a threat on offense and defense, at the plate he was always consistent with the power to poke it out at any time. The aspect I appreciated the most from Grant though was the fact that he was a dog. He had that killer mentality that I had. We were always on the same page in that department which is why I think we became such good friends early on. Always tears me up, just remembering all of our talks about playing up the middle together at Clemson, felt like we shared in that dream and I feel the hurt for him like I said Grant's my guy. Roommates for 4 years, not many people have friends like that. Out of all the people at Clemson, I've probably had more late-night talks with him than anybody else. You know those talks that are no fakin' just honest, always appreciated that, because like I said earlier, I’m like that too, just brutally honest and real even if it's not the glamorous way.
Grant’s story did a lot for me. It always kept perspective for me, he knew I didn’t have an easy 4 years at Clemson, but every time after talking to him about a day, he was able to calm me back down and keep things in perspective for me. Things could have been harder on me, the game was never taken from me by another person or entity...I always tried to represent people and hope that people could play through me in some ways. My parents, brother, and especially Grant. I can only imagine how hard it was to want to play and not be able to. I just hope that he never felt alienated and was able to find some joy and peace through me. Even through this, Grant was always positive and I will always remember him for that. His personality and energy was that spark that kept me going and my spirits up. Our relationship is so much bigger than baseball, we never even talked about baseball, it was everything else. I mean Grant is going to be in my wedding so that says it all without saying anything. Just a true day 1, that motivated me and kept me going through tougher times, and I’ll forever be grateful.”
JORDAN GREENE, FORMER CLEMSON SECOND BASEMAN
“Grant, you were one of my first friends when I transferred to Clemson. Listening to you tell your story and seeing the passion and desire to persevere through that inspired me, and I know it inspires so many others. You quickly became one of my best friends and I thank God everyday for the positive impact you have put on my life. The way that you are able to transform your pain and change that into a battle for others to become inspired by is truly a God given talent. I love you brother and am so excited to have a front row seat to your motivational story. Always, #LukeStrong.”
BRETT LONG
“Our church, New Hope Baptist Church of Due West, South Carolina, had the honor of having Grant come share his testimony with our church. Everyone who attended the service was greatly blessed as his story is one in which a young man kept the faith in God no matter what opposition he faced. The way in which he overcame each obstacle that he faced was nothing short of God. He tells his testimony in a very engaging way, and I can assure you that it will inspire all who hear no matter their age.”
REV. RICHARD ASHLEY
“The Hillcrest High School baseball team had the pleasure of hosting Grant to speak in February of this year. Immediately he had the attention of our guys as he had walked in their shoes not too long ago. Seemingly he had everything going his way. However, injuries derailed his athletic career and tragedy struck him personally when a relative was a victim of a school shooting. Through his faith he persevered and found a deeper calling. His uplifting message is sure to inspire anyone who is lucky enough to hear it!”
DALE NELSON, HILLCREST HIGH BASEBALL COACH
“Grant has been my best friend for as long as I remember, and it was never a question if he was going to make it in baseball. Whatever it took, Grant was going to be on the diamond on the big stage. Saying that now, you never would have even thought that was his goal in life by the way he carries himself day to day. Grant has been one of my biggest inspirations to this day that I strive to live like and he continues to show it each and everyday. Obstacle after obstacle, you show relentless and strength to keep pushing. Your story with your positive attitude and outlook on life gives so many people from so many various types of backgrounds, hope and courage to do the things they never thought they could. I’m so proud of you and I’m so grateful to call you my brother. Keep being the light for others.”
CASON MANSEL