ST. GEORGE, Utah – Tucson Toros pitcher Dustin Glant ran around the outfield of Bruce Hurst Field, trying to become accustomed to thin air and extreme heat again.
Glant pitched for the Tucson Sidewinders during the last two seasons, and spent six seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. After the D-backs released him in the off-season, he pitched this summer for an independent team in suburban Chicago.
Now Glant is preparing to pitch for the Toros in the Golden Baseball League South Division playoffs. He is expected to pitch tonight against the St. George RoadRunners at Hi Corbett in Game 2 of the best-of-five series. The game was pushed back to today after Thursday night's game in St. George was rained out.
As Glant worked out Thursday afternoon before the storm hit, he wondered how much he would have to run to grow used to the dry heat.
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"I've gotta do something to get used to it," he said. "I feel like I'm back at spring training (in Arizona)."
Glant, a right-hander, joined the team shortly before Wednesday night's game in St. George after flying into Las Vegas from Chicago. GBL teams were allowed to add players to replace injured ones, or those bought by big-league organizations. Glant is replacing Dan Knox (elbow) on the roster.
Toros manager Tim Johnson called his friend, Schaumburg Flyers manager Mike Busch, who directed him to the team's best pitcher. Glant (8-8, 4.76) jumped at the opportunity to keep pitching.
"He's a veteran. He's the right mix for the club," Johnson said.
The Toros like the idea of putting a pitcher on the mound that the RoadRunners have yet to see. St. George holds an 8-6 edge in the season series.
"It's probably good for them, too, because it's a little easier for them to see it and hit it and not have to strategize as much," Glant said. "Either way, a righty is a righty, and hitters are hitters."
Glant knows several of his teammates — including center fielder Lino Garcia, first baseman Mayobanex Santana and starting pitcher Vince Davis — from the D-backs farm system. Fitting in didn't seem to be a concern.
"The biggest thing is winning," Glant said. "If you pitch good, people like you. You pitch bad, they won't."
Glant threw a bullpen session with catcher Dylan Parzyk on Wednesday.
"The guy has good stuff," Parzyk said. "He's a Triple-A guy, so he's experienced and he knows how to pitch."
After Glant went 3-3 with a 7.51 ERA for the Sidewinders last season, the D-backs released him. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native then joined Schaumburg of the Northern League.
"It's definitely a little different from affiliated ball, but at the same time, it puts a uniform on my back," he said.
Travel plans
After Thursday night's game was rained out, the Toros left by bus around 7:30 p.m. Tucson time to return home. The rainout at least gave the team an early start on a 12-hour trip. The team had planned to leave soon after Thursday's game.
If the Toros win the series, they'll face Calgary or Edmonton in the championship round. The team would fly to Canada.
Out of the park
Catcher Luis Apodaca hit his first home run in 53 games this season on Wednesday.
Today
• What: GBL playoffs
• Who: St. George at Toros
• When: 7 p.m.
• Radio: 1450-AM
