 Calgary Viper Evan Greusel doubles as winning pitcher and pitching coach for the club
Being a professional baseball player involves a lot of hard work. There are practices, road trips, doubleheaders, playing through injuries and the lot. One Calgary Viper, Evan Greusel not only takes on the responsibilities of being a player, he’s the pitching coach for his team as well.
Gruesel sees his dual role as the best of both worlds.
Photo: Kelsey Hipkin/ Calgary Journal
As time went by Greusel realized he wanted to make the move from player to coach. Then manager, Mike Busch, wanted the pitcher to stay on with the team and Greusel was offered pitching coach duties last season.
When Morgan Burkhart took over managing duties this season Greusel said he wasn’t sure whether Burkhart would bring in new coaching staff or not. However, the new manager asked the 28-year-old to stay on where so far this season he’s gone three and one with 23 strikeouts and an ERA of 6.92.
Greusel says in being both a player and a coach he sees the best of both worlds, but that there are defininitely certain lines drawn between the two. As a player he’s running and throwing and as a coach he’s working with pitchers, a lot of whom he says he’s known for a long time.
“They know what to expect, they know what I want out of them,” he said.
“He’s a really knowledgeable guy,” said teammate Drew Miller, “especially when it comes to coaching.”
“He’s a really knowledgeable guy, especially when it
comes to coaching.”
- teammate Drew Miller says about Greusel
As far as pitching is concerned Miller said that Greusel treats each game like a chess match, thinking three pitches ahead.
As for the 2009 season, “(We’re) off to an okay start, anytime you’re in first that’s a good thing,” Greusel said.
And the team is in first with authority. The Vipers lead the North Division of the Golden Baseball League with a record of 15-9.
Gruesel winds up during the Vipers home opener May 21.
Photo: Julie-Carole Vincent/ Calgary Journal
In his off-time in Calgary he said he and his roommates go see a lot of movies and play cards and frisbee.
On June 17 the Vipers faced the Victoria Seals for the sixth of nine games in a row. The Seals took the game 6-5 in extra innings. The team will kick off July with a road trip against the Saint George Roadrunners.
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