Todd Glaesmann points toward memorable 2010 season

June 27, 2010

Outfielder Todd Glaesmann first arrived in Princeton on the evening of June 18 ready to attack his second season in professional baseball, this time as a member of the Princeton Rays. The eyes of Princeton quickly have focused on Glaesmann as a player to follow. The reason is that he carries with him the tag of being a high draft pick, specifically the number three pick of Tampa Bay in the 2009 amateur draft. In this story to follow, he sat down for an interview just prior to the start of the 2010 Appalachian League season with P-Rays' media intern Alex Knudson, a student at Northern Michigan University that gives us the first "close up look" at Todd Glaesmann.

PRINCETON - Excitement filled every corner of the field Saturday afternoon (June 19) as the 2010 Princeton Rays arrived at Hunnicutt Field in downtown Princeton. A small crowd gathered in the 90-degree heat to watch the players perform drills and take batting practice for the first time as a team. One player in particular could not wait to don his Princeton Rays uniform and get onto the field. Todd Glaesmann, a third round pick from the 2009 draft was all smiles as he went through practice with the team.

Glaesmann, who is touted as the best outfield arm in the Rays organization, has been eager to start his first full season of professional baseball in the Rays organization. Last season he played only five games for the Rays' Gulf Coast League team in Port Charlotte, Florida. Even though he only had 18 at-bats, Glaesmann showed promise, hitting .278, with two RBIs, and one double in 2009. In 2010 as a Princeton Ray, Glaesmann is primed for a breakout season.

Glaesmann, at 6'4"and 220-pounds, was ranked by Baseball America magazine as the tenth ranked centerfielder in the 2009 draft when he was selected out of Midway High School in Texas, where he was a two sport star in baseball and football. His senior year he decided to focus on baseball and sit out the football season, a decision that lasted all of one game before he was back on the field for the second game of the football season, during which he tore a ligament in his left thumb. After surgery and extensive rehab he was able to make it back for his high school baseball season. After he signed, he played a handful of games with GCL (Gulf Coast League) Rays. Now his thumb is 100 percent and he is eager to start another season.

"I am definitely excited to be in Princeton with the Rays," he said. "My baseball career has only been in Florida and I wanted to get out and experience another part of the U.S. and the Rays organization. After three months of playing 1:00 p.m. games in the Florida heat in front of small crowds, and working on all aspects of my game I'm definitely ready to pull it all together here."

Glaesmann likes centerfield better because he can see the whole field. Some scouts say that he is better suited to play right. He is indifferent and will play hard wherever the coaches put him. When asked about his goals Glaesmann, who looks up to former 1999 P-Ray Josh Hamilton, said that he just wants to put everything he has learned to use, and of course lead the Rays to a Mercer Cup, and more importantly an Appalachian League Championship. He has high goals, but doesn't put too much pressure on himself. Like Hamilton, Glaesmann promises excitement and lots of power at the plate, expect great things from this Rays prospect in Princeton this season."With my coaches and teammates behind me I know someone will pick me up if I'm not playing well, as I would for them. I'm just trying to stay relaxed and have fun playing the game."

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