Glenn Murray getting his baseball fix as Rivier University hitting coach

By TOM KING

Staff Writer

NASHUA – Glenn Murray wasn't used to the blank stares or the puzzled looks.

When he tried to share his knowledge of hitting with Atlantic League batters, whether it be in Nashua, Lancaster (Pa.) or Bridgeport, they got it.

But, college kids?

"It's a foreign language," said Murray, the 43-year-old former Nashua Pride icon who is in his first year as the Rivier University hitting coach. "You say, 'Stay to the middle'. And they say 'What do you mean, stay to the middle?' You've got to show them what you mean more so than just saying it. It's a learning experience for me, too."

It's an experience Rivier head coach Anthony Perry, who worked with Murray for years as the Pride's bullpen catcher, envisioned when he first took the Raiders' job three years ago. Perry had to tear the program down and start from scratch, and didn't want to burden Murray with that, so he opted to wait.

"He was one of the people I had in mind," Perry said. "I didn't want to bring in Glenn for his first taste of college baseball with what I had my first year.

"We've got a good group of kids here, willing to learn, and they want to learn from someone who's been at the major league level. So I figured now was the time to try to get Glenn in here."

Perry always knew Murray was approachable for any questions when he was with the Pride. He felt that Murray's mental approach to hitting meshed with his own. So, in the fall, he met with Murray, who has made Nashua his home, and explained to him that the Division III college game is good, but the players go at a slower pace than the professionals Murray was used to. Murray understood, even more so now.

"You're trying to change something that they're used to doing, say 'Try this', and then you're trying to squeeze it into a short season,'' Murray said.

For the first time since 2008, his final year in professional baseball with Bridgeport, Murray is part of a team again.

"I love it," he said. "I love the atmosphere of it. I've always been on some type of team or something as a kid."

Murray is recalling his experience as a high school player who went directly to professional baseball to help him understand where the Raider players are coming from. And they enjoy working with him.

"It takes an experienced hitter to teach a young group like this the mental approach at the plate," Raiders shortstop and former Nashua South standout J.J. Montello said. "We're lucky to have the opportunity for him to come here and give us a major league approach to hitting and baseball. It's something we really haven't seen here before."

"I was excited to start working with him," Raiders sophomore outfielder Jeremy Ball of Swanzey said. "Where he's been, what he's done, really excited. At first you're like, 'What does he mean'. But once he breaks it down, and explains it to you, you hear what he's saying."

Murray understands how tough the college game is in New England.

"It's a struggle," Murray said. "To play college baseball up here is tough. I think they should let these guys practice up here more so than the guys down south, especially during the off-season. There's shouldn't be so many limitations on them because they can't go outside and practice.

"We're using the tee, we're in the cage, not outside where you can see the results. I try to get them in here and get as many swings as possible. Because that's what hitting's about, swinging, swinging, swinging. You can't get 20 swings at practice and say 'I'm good.'

"That's warmup. With the time limit on these kids, hey get 20 or 30 swings."

Murray also preaches patience at the plate.

"I struck out a lot," he said. "But I got my pitches a lot. I just sat there and just waited, waited, waited."

Murray has always been tabbed by baseball execs as a potential manager or coach on the pro level, but after stints as a hitting coach in the Atlantic League – his last one was working with Bridgeport manager Tommy John – he settled in Nashua, has a day job with Fed-Ex and family here, including one of his two daughters (age 4). So, while he wishes he was able to spend more time with the Raiders – he couldn't make the southern trip – this job fits and gives him his baseball fix.

"The passion's still there," Perry said. "I think he just wants to stay close to home."

"I'd miss my girls too much," said Murray, who also needs time to see his 10-year-old daughter in Pennsylvania. "I always think about that, there's so much time away (with a pro ball job).''

Perry says that Murray is a great recruiting tool.

"A lot of kids I've talked to that are looking to come here are excited to get an opportunity to learn the mental side, the hitting side, from a former big leaguer," he said. "So it really helps."

"In the back of my mind, it was always there, maybe something would come up close," Murray said.

And it did – blank stares and all.