In the 2011 draft, the Boston Red Sox selected a high school shortstop named Mookie Betts with the 21st overall pick in the fifth round. Turns out, this kid plays a pretty mean shortstop.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Hart High School pitcher Tyler Glasnow with the first overall pick in the fifth round of the 2011 draft.
Fourteen years later, with Betts behind him, Glasnow has a chance Thursday to send his hometown Dodgers to the National League Championship Series.
“That would be great,” Glasnow said. “Growing up, loving this team, now being able to play for them?
“This will be everything.”
For Glasnow, yes, but also for the Dodgers.
That would eliminate the possibility of the Dodgers fighting for survival Saturday amid deafening decibels at Citizens Bank Park.
That would vindicate the Dodgers' strategy, other than locking up an elite starting pitcher for nearly three weeks and then handing him the ball and asking him to win the Division Series for them.
Glasnow's last normal start was 19 days ago.
He has pitched twice since: an intentionally shortened three-inning start 12 days ago and a relief appearance in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies five days ago.
“I think he's giving it his all,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It's great to have him in Philly, but as far as his buildup, I think it's just a normal start.”
To be fair, the Dodgers had no idea this year that they would end up with a slew of healthy, productive starters at the end of the season instead of at the beginning.
They selected Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani as their starting three. The wild-card round lasted only two games, and Glasnow would start in Game 4 of the Division Series.
That means juggling a rotation so that the front three players are ready for the wild-card round and giving Glasnow some relief so he can stay sharp.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies on Saturday.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“He's started all season,” catcher Ben Roetveit said. “I don't think there's a huge change. He's out of the bullpen and I think it's going to be a big challenge for him.
“He's back on the schedule, back on what he was doing. Looking forward to it.”
It's not entirely fair to judge a player by his salary, but that's the contract you sign when you play for the Dodgers. The Dodgers traded for Glasnow two winters ago and then gave him a $136.5 million contract. He was an All-Star last season, but tendinitis in his pitching elbow kept him out of the postseason.
It's not entirely fair to judge a player by his postseason results, but that's what you signed up for when you played for the Dodgers.
In 10 postseason starts (all with the Tampa Bay Rays), Glasnow was 2-6 with a 5.72 ERA.
In his only game against the Phillies this season, Glasnow pitched over two innings, walked five and allowed five runs.
The day's opposing pitcher was Thursday's opposing pitcher: Christopher Sanchez, as the Dodgers moved to a win in the NLCS berth.
The Dodgers invited Steve Garvey to pitch the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday and then deliver ceremonial remarks before each home game.
Garvey inserted a word into Vin Scully's trademark phrase.
“It's time for the Dodger Baseball Championship,” Garvey said.
Glasnow can make sure it's time for the Dodgers Baseball Championship Series on Thursday.