Vancouver pitcher Griffin Glaude continues upswing as Canadians blank Spokane Indians

During the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, Vancouver Canadians pitcher Griffin Glaude listened to every pick attentively. And each followed with disappointment.

Glaude, who threw three scoreless frames in Vancouver’s 1-0 victory over the Spokane Indians on Wednesday at Avista Stadium, thought his dream of playing professional baseball was over after his name wasn’t called on draft night.

“Immediately I asked (my mother), ‘What do I do now?’ ” Glaude said. “I put in everything I had.”

Before Glaude had to consider his next option, his phone rang. On the other line was the Toronto Blue Jays, offering a free-agent contract.

“Literally 30 seconds after the draft they call and asked if I would be willing to sign,” Glaude said. “I said, ‘Of course.’ ”

It took some help for Glaude’s opportunity to materialize. He struggled during the start of his college career at Central Arkansas. He posted earned-run averages of 9.00 and 8.10 during his first two seasons.

“It just wasn’t panning out,” Glaude said. “I didn’t feel like I was fitting in there

He transferred to Lyon University, an NAIA school in Batesville, Arkansas, to finish out his career. He capped off his senior season with a 0.56 ERA and was named to the NAIA All-American second team.

While at Lyon, he kept in touch with Kirk Kelley, a pitching coach at Central Arkansas, who helped him land a predraft workout with Toronto.

“I threw well there, and the rest is history,” Glaude said.

Three days after Glaude signed his contract, he was sent down to Florida to play with the Blue Jays’ Florida Gulf Coast League team. It wasn’t easy, but he couldn’t have been happier to be there.

“That was a grind … that’s a tough league to play in,” Glaude said. “It’s 100 degrees everyday, playing day games, no fans.

“But coming from my situation, I had a great. I was fortunate to still be playing and being paid the little amount that we do. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

After a successful season in rookie ball with the GCL Blue Jays, in which Glaude posted a 2.20 ERA, he’s doing the same in Vancouver. He’s given up four earned runs in 18 innings and struck out 22 with the Canadians this season.

Vancouver manager John Tamargo Jr. felt at ease sending out Glaude to protect a one-run lead.

“I thought Glaude tonight was tremendous,” he said. “He really settled the game down for us.”

Vancouver scored the game’s only run in the sixth inning, as Rodrigo Orozco doubled off of Spokane reliever Alex Daniele to bring in Javier Hernandez.

Spokane’s Blaine Prescott nearly ended the game in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on first, but his long fly ball to left field was caught near the wall.

Luis Sanchez, Glaude, Evan Smith and Jackson McClelland allowed a combined five hits. The Indians were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 base runners.