Tyler Glasnow Reveals Why He Picked Number 31 With The Dodgers

The Dodgers’ newest starting pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, is coming home.

Originally from Santa Clarita, Glasnow now gets the chance to play for his hometown team. On an introductory Zoom with reporters Monday, the 30-year-old fondly recalled attending games at Dodger Stadium with his family as a child.

For many major leaguers, having the opportunity to play for the hometown team is a dream. Few are lucky enough to realize it.

Glasnow now has that chance, and being back home should motivate him even more. Already one of the best pitchers around baseball when he is healthy, now he will be headlining a Dodgers rotation that was missing an ace-level pitcher capable of shouldering the typical innings workload of a number-1 starter.

After wearing number 20 with the Tampa Bay Rays (and numbers 24 and 51 earlier in his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates), Glasnow will be changing his number to 31 with the Dodgers. Monday, he revealed why he decided to choose that number.

It’s a full-circle moment for Glasnow, and he seemed giddy at the thought of taking the mound for the Dodgers. The trade was contingent on Glasnow signing a contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season.

He will make $15 million this coming season, then $30 in each of the next three years. For 2028, Glasnow has a team option that is worth $30 million. If the Dodgers decline the option, he can then exercise a player option worth $21.5 million. Given the value of the contract, Glasnow will likely be with the Dodgers for its duration unless he is traded.

If Glasnow performs to expectations, this contract will be a steal for the Dodgers. He might have gotten more money on the open market next off-season.

“There could be a potential downside to not signing something,” he said on the Zoom. “There could be potential upside.”

But Glasnow went on to emphasize that he isn’t concerned with money. He wanted to be somewhere that gave him a chance to have the life he wanted.

Now, the hometown kid gets to live out his dream, while also competing for World Series titles going forward.

Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!