Great Falls Voyager Pitcher/Actor CJ Grant-DuBose

From the Pioneer Baseball League to the TV screen. That’s what the offseason was like for Great Falls Voyager pitcher CJ Grant-DuBose.

Grant-DuBose appeared on “All American Homecoming” on The CW Network, a spin-off from the original show “All American.” Part of the show is about the baseball team at a fictional HBCU called Brixton University, set in Atlanta.

“Being in that atmosphere, it’s a different thing. It’s a different lifestyle, and it’s honestly very enjoyable,” Grant-DuBose said.

Grant-DuBose doesn’t have a speaking role but can be seen in action scenes playing second base, outfield, or pitching.

“Just helping out as much as I can on the field and keeping actual baseball on TV,” Grant-DuBose said. “I feel like sometimes we don’t see actual baseball moves and players on TV and televise certain things regarding TV shows and movies and stuff.”

Grant-DuBose said it’s important to him that the show brings light to HBCU baseball and the student experience at HBCUs.

“Just as a person of color myself, I wish I would have gone to an HBCU growing up,” Grant-DuBose said. “HBCUs, are often overlooked, and the ideals and teachings at HBCUs, I don’t feel like they are valued as much as they should be. So having a TV show projecting the lifestyle and showing how rich the atmosphere of being at an HBCU is amazing.”

The opportunity came to him from Kevin Martin, a scout for the Atlanta Braves. Martin reached out about extras needed for a TV show. Grant-DuBose initially would be the double for the main character, played by Peyton Alex Smith. When he didn’t turn out to be an identical match for him, he pivoted into the baseball player role.

Grant-DuBose got to film in the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA, where one of the Batman movies was filmed. He also got to see the Batmobile and other props during a studio tour, something he said was surreal.

Acting and filming are something that he said has always been in the back of his mind, and that he’s not the type of person who turns down new things anyway.

“I’m big blessings and opportunities guy, and I don’t really turn down too many opportunities, so I just felt like this was a way for me to get my foot in the door and meet people and grow connections throughout life,” Grant-DuBose said. “Because you never know when you might meet anyone, or you never know who you might meet to elevate your life to the next level.”

He filmed three times a week with the show from the beginning of October to when filming wrapped up on February 23, sometimes having to be on set as early as 5:30 in the morning. The first episode aired on February 21 on the CW Network and has aired new episodes on Tuesdays on the CW app. The first season has ten episodes, with the season finale airing on May 2.

Grant-DuBose called it a fantastic project that was well-done by everyone involved. They’re hoping it gets renewed for a second season, but for now, he can enjoy seeing himself on TV.

“I’m able to look at myself, and I know the background work, and I know the hours we put in being on set for 13, 14, sometimes 15 hours, the different takes and angles we had to do, so it’s just amazing to see it all come together into such a beautiful project,” Grant-DuBose said.

If it does get renewed for a second season, Grant-DeBose hopes to be able to keep acting and filming during baseball off-seasons moving forward.

“Who knows, maybe one day when my career in baseball ends, I can get on the big screen and get some lines, and who knows, maybe I’ll be like the next big actor,” Grant-DuBose said.

For now, he said he misses traveling with his teammates and competing in front of the crowds and atmospheres in the Pioneer League and is excited about his upcoming season in Great Falls. 

“Everything about the Pioneer League is something I’ve always dreamed of, and I can’t wait to be back a part of it, and I can’t wait to just watch the boys take off,” Grant-DuBose said.