Prospect Watch: Robbie Glendinning
For many players from outside the United States, the path to Major League Baseball is one full of twists, turns, triumphs, and failures. For Australian born, Robbie Glendinning, his path to the pros started in 2013 and saw him play for three different teams over the course of three years before he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over the last three seasons, Glendinning has gone from trying to find his way, to a budding prospect in the Pirates system, ready to put some pressure on the players in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues. Last season, he made his way to Double-A Altoona and was part of the middle infield for the final part of the 2019 season.
2019 as a whole would turn out to be Glendinning's best season as a professional player both offensively and defensively. He combined to hit .298 with 13 home runs and 57 RBI. All three were career-highs for the young star, and the most promising aspect of his game was the power that he hadn't shown in college or any other level of the Minor Leagues. It is another tool he can add to his offensive game and could give him an advantage that most other middle infielders in the Pirates Minor League system. Defensively, he had his best defensive season at each of his three positions. His best showing came at his primary position of Shortstop where, in 490.2 innings of work, he collected 148 assists, and helped turn 28 double plays. It is a sign that his defense is coming around with his offense to help his stock as he continues to climb the Minor League ladder.
Glendinning started his road to the Major Leagues back in 2013 when he attended the now non-existent Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program. He would go through the Academy and earn a chance to play at Northern Iowa University the following season. He would show just how good of a player he could be and set school records for homers (33), doubles (42), and RBI (141) during his two-year career. Then, he would go to the Cape Cod League for the 2016 season as he was looking for his next move in college baseball. He would play in just two games and went 1-3 with a double in his three plate appearances.
He would really start getting on scout's radars during the 2017 season when he spent his junior year at Missouri. In 56 games with the Tigers, he would end up hitting .274 with seven home runs and 30 RBI. While it wasn't anywhere near the power numbers he showed in his first two years of college ball, he still showed the ability to get on base consistently while producing near the top of the lineup. His defensive ability also stood out as he finished third in the SEC turning 37 double plays throughout the season. The Pittsburgh Pirates ended up taking Glendinning in the 21st round of the 2017 MLB Draft and signed him just a few weeks later.
He would start his professional career down in Single-A Short Season West Virginia and spent most of the year trying to find his footing. He would end up hitting just .198 with six RBI on the year while appearing in 29 games for the Black Bears. Glendinning had lost all the offensive success he had in college, and his confidence was shaken by his poor performance. It wasn't just his offense that was struggling, but his defense was not coming around either. He split time between third base and shortstop and ended up committing five errors in just under 200 innings of work. The Pirates were starting to wonder if their 21st round selection would turn into a bust.
But, Robbie Glendinning wouldn't let that happen as he returned to his native country of Australian and played in the Australian Baseball League over the off-season. It was here that he was able to re-find his confidence and get his career back on track. He played in 21 games for the Perth Heat and hit .333 with three home runs and 17 RBI in 21 games played. It not only helped him get more work at his position, but it helped improve his confidence going into the 2018 season. He would return to the West Virginia Black Bears for the start of 2018 looking to prove that he has what it takes to make it at the Major League level.
He would get his career back in track with the Black Bears improving in every aspect of the game. He raised his batting average to .250 with 11 RBI in 25 games played. He still wasn't showing the home run power that he had displayed in the past but was starting to hit for extra-bases again. He picked up nine extra-base hits that season, including eight doubles. Defensively he played three positions and had a fielding percentage of over .900 at each position. With his career getting back on track, Glendinning made the move to full-season baseball getting the call to the West Virginia Power by the end of the season.
His development continued as he broke out with the Power hitting for both average and power. He would go on to hit .364 with three home runs and 25 RBI in 28 games, showing that power that he had in his college days. He would become a much more patient hitter at the plate, walking 21 times and having an on-base percentage of .467. He was also a hard man to strike out, fanning only 27 times in 99 at-bats. He would continue his run in the Australian Baseball League that summer, and would continue his rise through the Minor Leagues in 2019 starting the year in Advanced-A Bradenton.
His run of setting career-highs would also continue as he would start to put pressure on prospects in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues. It started with Bradenton when he hit .340 with eight home runs and 26 RBI as he established himself as a top of the order bat. He was getting on base more than he ever had before in his professional career as he reached base at a .393 clip. The Pirates always knew that Glendinning had the offensive ability, but it was a question of whether or not it would translate in the professional ranks. Once it did, Glendinning would get himself on the Pirates radar and, when an opening happened at Altoona, he was on his way up to Double-A.
He would be named a Florida State League All-Star and had to follow up that performance at Double-A. He would see his numbers drop across the board and he would hit .261 with five home runs and 31 RBI. One of the best parts of Glendinning's game is his ability to get on base. He continued that in Double-A reaching base at a .346 clip and walking 24 times throughout the season. He earned the starting job at shortstop, but continued to play second base and third base and improved defensively at all three positions. He was perfect as a third baseman and had a .946 fielding percentage at shortstop.
With the Pirates having a log jam in the middle infield in the Minor Leagues, each guy is going to have to make themselves stand out among the rest. Glendinning has done a good job over the last two years and looks to continue his climb when baseball resumes. Look for him to once again play at Double-A Altoona as he tries to play a full successful season at the level. As of now, Glendinning would have several players he would have to jump in order to be a starter at the Major League level. However, with the hard work he has put in throughout his Minor League career, this should be no problem for the young middle infielder.
It is still uncertain as to when the 2020 MLB season is set to begin, but we at Buccos Cove are determined to continue to bring you strong content. Until the 2020 season begins, we will continue looking at the players who make up the 2020 Pirates organization and how they will impact the organization this season.
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