Glover leveraging first big league camp into a learning experience

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Under normal circumstances, a rookie pitcher in his first major league spring training would be a fly on the wall. He'd say little, listen a lot and hope he lasted long enough in camp to glean something from the older veterans with something to offer him.

But nothing about Nationals right-hander Koda Glover is ordinary. Not his imposing look on the mound. Not the way he fires bullets at a catcher's mitt. Not the fact that he jumped from high Single-A Potomac, through two other levels in the minors last season, to make his major league debut barely a year after the Nationals took him in the eighth round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.

And certainly not that fact that the hard-throwing kid that will turn 24 in May is one of several relievers vying to take over as closer for the Nationals.

To be sure, there are obstacles Glover must clear to merely earn a spot in the bullpen when the Nationals break camp in late March.

Glover tore the labrum in his hip pitching to the Mets' Yoenis Cespedes on Sept. 13. Glover opted for extensive rehab over surgery, mainly to avoid a hip replacement down the road, and spent the winter committed the strengthening the joint in preparation for 2017.

"You dial it back once it happens," Glover said. "You kind of see where you're at and go from there. As soon I got released (from rehab), I'm full-throttle. That's the only way I know how to do it, so that's the way I'm going to approach it. We'll see if the body holds up.

"That's what my offseason was all about: getting healthy. I sat down with Dusty (Baker) before the playoffs and went over some things. He thought it would be better for me to ship off for home and get healthy, get ready for next year. I think that was the right decision."

Now, with Glover mentioned as a candidate in the competition to take over the ninth inning, the decision looms as even more important. Glover was lights-out in parts of two minor league seasons, posting a 2.09 ERA, 0.895 WHIP and 13 saves before being summoned to Washington in July. But he's more focused on pitching well enough this spring to win a spot in the bullpen, rather than handicapping his chances to close games.

"I don't care if I'm coming in for the fourth or fifth inning to get a couple of innings for the starter, or if I'm in the seventh, eighth, ninth," he said. "I don't care. Wherever they want me to throw, I'll throw.

"If I have my choice, I do want high-leverage situations. That's what I love to do. But at the same time, I'm not going to bitch about it if I don't."

Part of being a youngster in camp is having the opportunity to pick the brains of more established relievers. Last season, righty Shawn Kelley helped Glover a lot to be more comfortable in the big leagues. Departed closer Mark Melancon imparted his wisdom to the young pitcher, too.

"Everyone has something to teach you, whether it's a young guy or a veteran," Glover said. "You can learn something on any given day. I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I'm still young and I still need to learn things. I don't know everything. That's what I need to do, I need to learn. I'm just trying to be a sponge around these guys."

But it's a tricky position to be in. Glover may be a promising rookie, but he's trying to learn from players whose jobs he may one day take. For that reason, he makes sure to display the requisite humility.

"It's how you go about it," Glover said. "If you're a young guy and you come up and you're kind of arrogant and you think you know everything, ... I don't think you're going to get a lot back in return. But if you go about it the right way and do things the right way - be accountable, listen and do your job - then good things will happen for you."

Glover looks like any other pitcher as he moves from station to station during camp drills - well, maybe except for the man-bun tucked beneath a cap that covers a unique hairstyle featuring both temples shaved - and tries to blend in as much as possible.

But he relishes the opportunities he gets to talk shop with veteran pitchers, especially guys like right-handers Kelley and Blake Treinen, who might end up notching saves for the Nats, or longtime closer Joe Nathan, whose 377 career saves are the second-most among active major leaguers.

"It's not their job to teach you, but the way I go about it, I don't necessarily seek counsel," Glover said. "But if there's something I need to learn, you just ask a question. You're not trying to learn everything all at once, but if there's an adjustment you need to make, go ask them. They'll have an answer for you."

Update: The man-bun is no more. Glover arrived in the clubhouse this morning with a freshly shorn crewcut.