Angels May Have a Heartthrob and an All-Star at Third Base

No woman has yet fainted at the sight of Troy Glaus, but there’s a whole lot of swooning going on.

The Angels’ web site features a bulletin board, where fans congregate online to discuss such topics as Garret Anderson’s on-base percentage and which minor league shortstop might replace Gary DiSarcina.

When the topic involves Glaus, however, you can almost hear young women shrieking. Their online names include “Love Troy,” “Glaus Girls,” “Perfect Angel 25” (Glaus wears No. 25) and “Hot Corner Hottie.”

Wrote one man in response: “Girls, start digging Ricky Martin and leave Glaus to the people who can appreciate his considerable baseball skills.”

Amy Hamilton, 21, of Costa Mesa answers online to “Hot Corner Hottie.”

Said Hamilton, “Hey, he is really good-looking. But I’m not just some stupid girl in love with a baseball player. I know how to spot talent.

“He’s just a great player. He’s real good in the clutch. He’s so mature for 23 years old. He has the most awesome plate discipline I’ve ever seen.”

Amy Fishbein, health and fitness editor of Seventeen magazine, said she had not heard of Glaus but thought her readers might enjoy a feature about him.

“They want to see cute guys,” Fishbein said. “We hope to inspire kids to become fit, so athletes in general are good role models. When we do something on male athletes, it helps if they’re cute.”

Tim Mead, the Angels’ vice president of communications, said the team would promote Glaus along with its other stars, not alone as a teen heartthrob. But the Angels will be happy to sell you a ticket, whether you admire Glaus for his powerful swing or his dreamy eyes.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to create Angel fans,” Mead said. “If a certain demographic of girls wants to focus on that one element, they can do that.”

Glaus said he was unaware of his online fan base and said he would be uncomfortable with any promotion that did not focus on baseball.

“I’m a baseball player, bottom line,” he said.

Oh, and sorry girls: Glaus said he has a serious girlfriend.