Maybe he’s not the highest prospect on the Orioles’ pitching chart but part of the reason I’m picking Sean Gleason as my Shorebird of the Week this time around is his attitude.
I’m one of those who truly likes to show up well before the first pitch to soak in the atmosphere and prior to most of the games I’ve seen Sean interacting with the kids and signing autographs. It’s nice to see that out of a player and this selection hopefully shows my appreciation for that just a little bit.
So far this year Sean’s been no slouch on the mound either. Pitching mostly in long relief, Sean has made 4 appearances with an 0.77 ERA in 11 2/3 innings to show for his work. Aside from a little bit of a control issue in his last appearance (3 walks in 3 2/3 innings against Hagerstown Tuesday) Sean has also shown an excellent 9K/3BB ratio and an outstanding 0.94 WHIP (walks + hits/innings pitched – anything under 1 is considered excellent.)
Last year’s 20th round pick by the O’s out of St. Mary’s College, the Californian may not care for our chilly weather but is adjusting well in his first full-season assignment. He overmatched a lot of hitters last season at the rookie-level Bluefield squad, putting together a 5-4, 2.93 season in 14 appearances and 10 starts. The WHIP was a bit high at 1.36 but he only walked 14 in 67 2/3 innings – evidence that his control shouldn’t be an issue with Delmarva. Seeing that he’ll not turn 23 until just before the end of the season, he’s got a good chance to impress the scouts and move up the ladder in future years, while possibly being one to step into a starting job here if there is an injury or callup among the current five-man rotation.
By the way, my goal for future SotW’s is to provide a still picture and action photo, or at least two photos of each player. This is the first time I’ve gotten to do that this season and hopefully it makes the post that much better.
I played high school baseball with Sean Gleason at La Junta High School in La Junta, Colorado. It doesn’t surprise me that you would pick Sean as your player of the week. He is a hard worker and is a very tought competitor. Sean was always the hardest working player I had ever played belong side, and he we will never change that attitude. When on the field it was like Sean turned into a silent warrior. He pitched within himself and never tried to over power an oponent. He knew he had defense, and I know he is using his defense there. I can see Sean playing for the big club in the next couple of years because he is coachable and has a great attitude toward the game. And about the weather, I know he went to college in Colorado, but ask him about how cold it get in La Junta in the winter time. A friend, fan and journalist for the Rocky Ford Daily Gazette: Aaron Salas.
After I wrote this article, I was pleased to be the high bidder in a charity auction for Sean’s jersey that evening, which he signed. Sean’s a nice guy and he’s really good with the kids so I hope he does get all the way to the Show in a couple years. Your former teammate has also been placed in the Delmarva starting rotation since I wrote this and was so successful he was picked as a SAL All-Star earlier this month.
Sean was interviewed on WNST in Baltimore, and when the radio host, Drew Forrester, told him to work on his ERA, Sean said, “Who? Me?”
No… DREW! Of course YOU, Sean! Next time be sure to be fully awake when the interviewers come a-callin’.
Out.