By now most Dodgers fans have heard the news that 30-year-old right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who was born and raised in nearby Newhall, CA and grew up a Dodgers fan himself and who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth in 2011 out of William S. Hart High School in Santa Clarita, was traded to his hometown team by the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon along with 29-year-old outfielder Manuel Margot and cash in exchange for 25-year-old outfielder and pinch hitter (and Thousand Oaks CA native) Jonny Deluca and 26-year-old right-hander Ryan Pepiot.

During a Zoom press conference (from the front seat of his car) on Monday morning), Glasnow told reporters that he grew up a huge Shawn Green fan, admiring the popular former Dodger’s tremendous power. Glasnow added that he also marveled at the dominance of a then very young Clayton Kershaw and hoped that he, too, could one day pitch form the mound at Dodger Stadium.

As you might expect, with pitching a top priority for many MLB teams this off-season, the former Pirate and Devil Ray was being courted (and wined and dined) by a number of MLB teams, including the Dodgers, their division rival San Francisco Giants, and the Texas Rangers, among others. But the Southern California native, who boasts a 30-27 record and 3.89 ERA over his six MLB seasons and thus far 127 appearances (88 starts), ultimately chose to ‘come home.’

“There was a short list of teams that I wanted to go to, and the Dodgers were on it,” Glasnow said. “And they were very bullish on trying to get me, and I really appreciated the fact that they thought so highly of me. I get to go home. I have all my family there, and it just seemed like a no-brainer to me. I’m glad we got it done.”

As Dodgers fans also know, Glasnow had Tommy John surgery in August of 2021. And though he missed nearly the entire 2022 season with Tampa Bay (two starts with an 0-0 record and 1.35 ERA in 6.2 innings pitched), he posted a 10-7 record and 3.53 ERA in his 21 games (all starts) in 120.0 innings pitched in 2023.

“It’s just a night-and-day difference, and it was so nice to not wake up and have soreness and be able to throw and warm up quick and not have to do a million things to get my arm ready, so it’s definitely a positive,” Glasnow said of his surgery.

Glasnow’s deal with the Dodgers is for five years at $136.5 million.

“He’s understanding his body, and our group knows that the combination of his work ethic and curiosity getting that all together is a good recipe for future success,” Dodger General Manager Brandon Gomes said of Glasnow.

“I’m ecstatic. I think I’ve watched the Dodgers from afar for so long, and then even last year, the team was so good.” Glasnow said. “And then when Shohei (Ohtani) signed, it was that immediate, ‘Man, I’m going to be on that team.’ I just want to pick his brain, obviously, and just know what he’s learned. He just seems like such a cool dude and probably one of the best baseball players to ever live. I want to be on a field with that guy, and I’m just extremely excited,” he added.

Welcome home, Tyler!

Play Ball!

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