Tyler Glasnow, this years Pirates minor league pitcher of-the-year, held up to his preseason #9 ranking on the Pirates Prospects list as he recorded a 9 – 3 record for Class-A West Virginia while recording a 2.18 era in 24 starts while striking out 164 batters and walking 61. The great numbers weren’t part of Glasnow’s plan at the start of the season. It was strictly work to get better.
“My focus at the beginning of the year was to not really think of results, not really think of stats,” said Glasnow. “Just really kinda find something I was working on and go out there and really work on it, so I feel like just having a good year was a plus and I feel like I was learning a lot this year which was my main goal.”
It’s an approach that you wouldn’t think a kid two years removed from high school would take, but it’s that maturity and leadership that has helped him this year.
“I learned if things weren’t going your way, don’t change things to try and make things better.” Glasnow mentioned. “I feel like I was working on downward angle and really working on my changeup a lot this year. I didn’t have one last year, so the main thing, even if it was uncomfortable to throw, I had to throw my changeup to get the game rep and I think that really helped a lot this year.”
That maturity has also helped him handle the pressures of being a highly regarded prospect in the minors.
“I feel like I really don’t look into a lot of that,” Glasnow said. “I kinda try and stay away from Googling my name, so I think I’ll be ok.”
Another approach that helped him succeed this season was the mind-set to just pitch instead of going for the strikeout.
“I didn’t think about going out there and really thinking ‘ok, I’m going out there and striking out a bunch of people’,” said Glasnow. “A lot of it, too was getting ahead because the games I felt I got ahead well, the K’s just kinda came along.”
That attitude is one that he looks to keep as he goes into the fall instructional league and next season as he doesn’t look for any type of stat line as a goal.
“I’m not trying to throw a stat or anything out there,” Glasnow said. “I just really want to probably stay consistent and really get a form that I like and keep every pitch consistent to stay the same on top of the ball.”
One of the major motivations for a prospect is the final goal of making it to the majors. They also thrive off of the big team’s successes.
“Watching the team do good is always good motivation,” said Glasnow. “Just seeing it, the Pirates are a close-knit organization and every single level, you really feel apart of it and it’s really good.”
If you asked Tyler if he would be the minor league pitcher-of-the-year two years ago, he’d probably think you’re crazy, but a lot can happen in two years.
“I’m extremely honored, when I got called by Larry Broadway,” said Glasnow. “I was ecstatic, I felt really good. It was a really, really good moment. Honestly, if you asked me two years ago what I thought would happen . I wouldn’t think of this. I’m just really excited how things have turned out this year.”
The future is bright for the Pirates farm system and Tyler Glasnow is a major piece.
(Photo Credit: Carl Kline/MiLB.com)
