Mitch Glasser has traveled to various parts of the world.
Norway. Israel. Australia.
In September, Glasser moved back to his hometown of Chicago, having previously lived in Las Vegas. The following month, the RailCats acquired him from Winnipeg as part of the Charle Rosario trade.
It was a welcome turn of events for the versatile 28-year-old Glasser, who graduated from Latin in Chicago.
“It was nice to come home again, and then on top of it to play close to home is an amazing thing,” Glasser said. “I get to live with my fiancee and commute every day. Being local, 50 minutes away, it’s great.”
The RailCats were excited to add Glasser. He hit .282 last season for Cleburne with 18 stolen bases, three homers and 33 RBIs. Glasser played 37 games at third base, 30 at second and 21 in the outfield.
Manager Greg Tagert envisioned Glasser — who in the final game of the 2015 season played all nine positions with Joplin — at third base.
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Middle infielder Ryan Fitzgerald’s signing with the Boston Red Sox organization on the eve of spring training gave Tagert pause, but the plans for Glasser were expected to continue forward.
“With Mitch, you really talk about second base being his most natural position, but we talked to him about playing third and he’s open to it,” Tagert said. “It’s a need for us, and he’s done it before.
“We love his approach and what he can bring to the club.”
Glasser simply wants to be in the lineup and on the field.
“My whole career is just competing and finding a way to help the team win,” he said. “Figure out my role and do it to the best of my ability. Whether it’s getting on base and scoring runs, driving in runs, playing multiple positions, playing one position, whatever I have to do, I figure it out and I’m prepared every day to do my job.
“That’s what I’ve learned in my years of pro ball — being a professional is to be prepared.”
That type of attitude helped Glasser earn a spot on Israel’s national team for World Baseball Classic qualifying in September 2016. In Israel’s second appearance, the team went 3-0 in Brooklyn to make the tournament for the first time.
Although major-leaguers were available for the WBC in March 2017 and Glasser did not make that roster, he cherished the qualifying experience.
“It was an honor,” Glasser said. “Playing with 27 other Jewish players was special. Playing in those games and being around those guys will always be one of the highlights of my career.”
Glasser starred in college at Macalester, spending the fall semester of his junior year studying in Norway. After his senior season in 2012, the White Sox — his favorite team growing up — drafted him in the 39th round.
Glasser had a stint with the White Sox’s rookie-league affiliate before keeping his career going in Australia.
This season with the RailCats will be his fourth in the American Association after two with now-defunct Joplin and one with Cleburne. He has enjoyed just one winning season and no appearances in the playoffs.
Glasser has been eager for a taste.
“It’s great to come to an organization with a history of winning,” he said. “Greg’s won a ton, he knows how to create a winning culture and I want to be a part of it.
“When we win, I put up good numbers. When you put up good numbers, you can get picked up. That’s the cycle. If you focus on the wrong things, you don’t help yourself.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff