2017 Free Agent corner man Dan Glazier

Dan Glazer

USSSA Playing History

Interview conducted on 1/18/2017

Who are you playing with in 2017?
Free Agent – D.Glazier@yahoo.com

What positions do you play and what is your best position?
I play 1st, 3rd and Catcher. I’d say my best position is 1st.

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
There are so many great players it’s hard to name just one. Pearson, Harvey and Greinert hit the ball same damn hard and far you can’t help but watch. If I had to pick someone I’d go with Wegman for best overall.

Why do you like the game of softball?
It feeds my competitive side and allows me to get away from the normal routine.

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
I might be biased towards my past teammates but Brandon Doughty works his ass off and is going to have another great season in 2017 with the JBL/All In team. If he gets his opportunities Adam Weimer has all of the skills to be a top tier player too.

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?
I have a few. The one with the best story is probably big nerd. I was fortunate enough to play in a prison game in Ohio a few years back and one of the inmates yelled out during my first at bat “THIS F*** BIG NERD CAN’T HIT”. Big nerd ended up sticking and the inmate ended up taking that one back… lol

What is your height and weight?
6’7 250lbs

Where do you call home?
Wilmington, DE

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
Catching up with family and friends. Spending time at the beach and fishing if I’m lucky enough to get away.

What do you do for a living?
I’m a Financial Advisor with Capital One Investing.

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
I played Baseball and Basketball in high school and then college for a very short time. Tommy John surgery ultimately ended my baseball days.

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to play with some outstanding sponsors and teammates. I started playing some local leagues and got my start with USSSA with a team called Pike Creek Financial. We had a good first year and moved to C. I hung out at the C level for a couple of years before joining All In. This past year was my first taste of a full season playing conference events and I’m hoping to stick around for a while.

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?
The all-around ability of everyone in the conference is on another level. When you’re playing smaller events there might be someone who hits it well, runs fast or has a nice glove, but rarely does someone possess all of the tools. In the conference being well rounded is the norm and it’s throughout the entire lineup.

Is there a player that you would compare your game to?
It’s difficult for me to put a label on my game and even more so to try to name someone who’s been playing at a top level for years. While you won’t catch me spending time in the outfield – I enjoyed watching Jason Branch play this past year. The way he was able to hit for an extremely high average without using nearly the amount of home runs as others at the top was impressive. Add to that his energy which his teammates clearly fed off of. Not saying I’m JB, but that’s the type of game I’m striving for.

What would you say is your career highlight to this point? Maybe one play or game that sticks out to you in particular?
The 3 world tournament wins I was fortunate to be a part of with All In were my career highlights so far.

In your career was there a single person (player/manager/coach) who had the most significant impact on your approach to the game? Why?
Without a doubt that person for me is Tim Riley. His approach towards practice and the importance of having a routine I feel has enabled me to continue to improve each year. I guess having a couple of years experience under his belt also helps. Thanks Tim.

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
Practice with a purpose. It can be fun to go out and see how hard or far you can hit the ball, but that isn’t practice. Every swing in BP should be made with a specific purpose in mind.

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?
2 finger overlap. 27oz

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
Gym and BP. This past off season I’ve focused more on cardio than years past.

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?
Philadelphia fan all the way. I enjoy all of the major sports but I’d say hockey is my favorite to watch live.

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
I don't have very many. If I walk by the bats and notice any are crossed I’ll straighten them. Thanks to the bucket in the conference I’m relieved of my duties! lol

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
This past year I requested Lion King as my walk up song, so I’ll continue to request it until I get the opportunity to walk out to it. I think it would be fun to catch people off guard when they hear it, also it’s a reminder to myself to relax and have fun playing the game.

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
Balance the teams better. This past year was great in the parity between the major teams, but I think more work needs to be done to keep it that way.

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?
The Smoky is the best for its atmosphere and the unlimited HRs. To give an answer not commonly seen, I’d say the Florida Dual. It’s the unofficial kick off to the season and what could be better than a 4 day softball binge.

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?
Disney is always fun as it’s a world class complex. I also like playing in Columbus on the all turf infields.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
Assuming restaurants are still open – I'm usually in search for a steak after a long day of softball. I’m not very picky where.

Tell us something about you that most would never know about you?
Most of my softball teammates don’t know that I grew up bowling and have thrown multiple 300 games.