Gladd Garners National Player of the Week Honors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sam Gladd of the No. 18 Taylor baseball team (21-4, 12-0 CL) was named the NAIA National Player of the Week following his six-game stretch that saw the lefty slugger hit for a .545 average with six home runs and 15 RBIs.
Gladd led TU to a 6-0 week, which commenced Monday, March 10, with the last two games of a sweep over Huntington and ended Saturday, March 15, following a four-game sweep of Spring Arbor in which the Trojans scored 71 runs.
The first baseman collected at least one hit and one RBI in every game during the week. His biggest swing came in the bottom of the seventh inning of an 11-11 tie game in the series finale versus Huntington.
Gladd sent the ball over the fence in right-center field for a walk-off home run, which capped a four-homer doubleheader for the junior.
The national weekly award marks the program's first since pitcher Nick Crabtree earned the honor in April 2023. Taylor athletes across all sports have combined to collect nine NAIA National Athlete of the Week awards during the 2024-2025 year.
Gladd and No. 18 Taylor hope to stay hot when the Trojans welcome Mount Vernon Nazarene (17-7, 7-5) to Winterholter Field for a series beginning Friday at 3 p.m.