Tom Glavine

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 1987
  Growing up in the Boston area, Glavine’s baseball experience was limited. He spent more time on the ice than the baseball field--and was a fourth-round choice of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in addition to being the Braves’ second-round selection in the 1984 draft. Glavine has, however, developed quickly since devoting his attention to baseball, spending the bulk of last year at Double-A Greenville, where his 3.41 ERA ranked fourth in the Southern League. Despite being young, a lefthander and not from an area with an emphasis on baseball, Glavine has command of all four pitches, including a sinking fastball that runs. His biggest asset, however, is his knowledge of pitching. He’s the type of pitcher who can win games on days when he doesn’t have good stuff because he will think his way through a game, and remain in command of his emotions--regardless of the situation.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 1986
  Glavine defies logic. He really is 20. He really has concentrated on baseball as his No. 1 sport for only a year and a half. He really is a lefthander. Just the same, he already is a pretty polished young pitcher who has outstanding composure, command of four pitches, and the ability to throw as hard as he needs to against certain hitters in certain situations. It is a sinking fastball that Glavine already realizes he has to run in on hitters--lefthanded or righthanded--to succeed. Check out the ratios from his first full pro season at low Class A Sumter: 169 innings, 114 hits, 73 walks and 174 strikeouts. The Braves’ second-round pick in June 1984, Glavine turned down a college scholarship to play hockey and a pro hockey offer from the Los Angeles Kings, who drafted him in the fourth round of the NHL draft. The hockey background is obvious in the tenacity with which Glavine approaches pitching. He doesn’t give in or get down when things go bad. He has that confidence that he can get out of the mess. Glavine combines the athletic ability and attitude along with the intelligence to learn quickly from instruction and mistakes. He was selected the Boston-area prep athlete and academic athlete of the year as a junior and senior--the only athlete to receive both honors in the same year.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #3 prospect in 1985
  With high school first baseman Drew Denson in the first round and Glavine in the second, the 1984 draft could go down as a big one in Braves history. Glavine’s won-loss record was ordinary (2-3 with a 3.34 ERA in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League), but check out the other numbers: 32 innings, 29 hits, 13 walks and 34 strikeouts. Then consider that he’s from New England, where he was an outstanding hockey player (fourth-round choice of the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL draft last June) and didn’t have the amateur background in baseball that a lot of other players have had. Glavine has got good movement with a sinking fastball, which he runs in on hitters. As far as makeup--he was a hockey player. In other words, he is a battler. But that’s not all. As a junior he became the first Boston-area prep to be selected both the outstanding high school athlete and academic athlete by The Boston Globe--a pair of honors he won again as a senior.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #2 prospect in 1986
  He’s a mere pup by age (19) standards, but Glavine--twice the greater Boston scholar-athlete of the year--is developed beyond his years on the mound. Drafted out of Billerica (Mass.) High by both the Braves and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, Glavine continued his steady progress in the Braves' system this year, posting an 11-6 record and 3.41 ERA, before earning a promotion to Triple-A Richmond. While not overpowering, Glavine fanned 118 in 145 innings at Greenville. “Outstanding poise for his age and experience, in a tough league,” is what Columbus manager Gary Tuck said of Glavine.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #6 prospect in 1985
  If baseball loses its appeal, Glavine can always hit the ice. The Braves’ second-rond in the June 1984 draft, Glavine was also the fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL. A bidding war ensued, and the Braves couldn’t be happier they won it. Glavine, 6 feet, 175 pounds, went 9-6 with a league-leading 2.35 ERA for Sumter, while striking out 174 and allowing only 114 hits and 73 walks in 168 innings. Beyond statistics, Glavine received praise as a class individual and he had everybody pulling for him to make the major league because of his attitude.

• December, 1986 Scouting Report
  Growing up in the Boston area, Glavine’s baseball experience was limited. He spent more time on the ice than the baseball field--and was a fourth-round choice of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in addition to being the Braves’ second-round selection in the 1984 draft. Glavine has, however, developed quickly since devoting his attention to baseball, spending the bulk of last year at Double-A Greenville, where his 3.41 ERA ranked fourth in the Southern League. Despite being young, a lefthander and not from an area with an emphasis on baseball, Glavine has command of all four pitches, including a sinking fastball that runs. His biggest asset, however, is his knowledge of pitching. He’s the type of pitcher who can win games on days when he doesn’t have good stuff because he will think his way through a game, and remain in command of his emotions--regardless of the situation.
• December, 1985 Scouting Report
  Glavine defies logic. He really is 20. He really has concentrated on baseball as his No. 1 sport for only a year and a half. He really is a lefthander. Just the same, he already is a pretty polished young pitcher who has outstanding composure, command of four pitches, and the ability to throw as hard as he needs to against certain hitters in certain situations. It is a sinking fastball that Glavine already realizes he has to run in on hitters--lefthanded or righthanded--to succeed. Check out the ratios from his first full pro season at low Class A Sumter: 169 innings, 114 hits, 73 walks and 174 strikeouts. The Braves’ second-round pick in June 1984, Glavine turned down a college scholarship to play hockey and a pro hockey offer from the Los Angeles Kings, who drafted him in the fourth round of the NHL draft. The hockey background is obvious in the tenacity with which Glavine approaches pitching. He doesn’t give in or get down when things go bad. He has that confidence that he can get out of the mess. Glavine combines the athletic ability and attitude along with the intelligence to learn quickly from instruction and mistakes. He was selected the Boston-area prep athlete and academic athlete of the year as a junior and senior--the only athlete to receive both honors in the same year.
• December, 1985 Scouting Report
  He’s a mere pup by age (19) standards, but Glavine--twice the greater Boston scholar-athlete of the year--is developed beyond his years on the mound. Drafted out of Billerica (Mass.) High by both the Braves and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, Glavine continued his steady progress in the Braves' system this year, posting an 11-6 record and 3.41 ERA, before earning a promotion to Triple-A Richmond. While not overpowering, Glavine fanned 118 in 145 innings at Greenville. “Outstanding poise for his age and experience, in a tough league,” is what Columbus manager Gary Tuck said of Glavine.
• December, 1984 Scouting Report
  With high school first baseman Drew Denson in the first round and Glavine in the second, the 1984 draft could go down as a big one in Braves history. Glavine’s won-loss record was ordinary (2-3 with a 3.34 ERA in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League), but check out the other numbers: 32 innings, 29 hits, 13 walks and 34 strikeouts. Then consider that he’s from New England, where he was an outstanding hockey player (fourth-round choice of the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL draft last June) and didn’t have the amateur background in baseball that a lot of other players have had. Glavine has got good movement with a sinking fastball, which he runs in on hitters. As far as makeup--he was a hockey player. In other words, he is a battler. But that’s not all. As a junior he became the first Boston-area prep to be selected both the outstanding high school athlete and academic athlete by The Boston Globe--a pair of honors he won again as a senior.
• December, 1984 Scouting Report
  If baseball loses its appeal, Glavine can always hit the ice. The Braves’ second-rond in the June 1984 draft, Glavine was also the fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL. A bidding war ensued, and the Braves couldn’t be happier they won it. Glavine, 6 feet, 175 pounds, went 9-6 with a league-leading 2.35 ERA for Sumter, while striking out 174 and allowing only 114 hits and 73 walks in 168 innings. Beyond statistics, Glavine received praise as a class individual and he had everybody pulling for him to make the major league because of his attitude.