Robbie Glendinning

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Robbie Glendinning

|image=Robbie Glendinning (cropped).jpg

|caption=Glendinning with the Melbourne Aces in 2024

|team=Kansas City Monarchs

|number=

|position=Infielder

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1995|10|6|df=y}}

|birth_place=Perth, Australia

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

}}

Robert Glendinning (born 6 October 1995) is an Australian professional baseball third baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He played for the Australian national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Amateur career

Glendinning is from Scarborough, Western Australia. He enrolled at North Iowa Area Community College and played college baseball there for two seasons. He transferred to the University of Missouri and continued his college baseball career with the Missouri Tigers.{{cite web|url=https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/sports/college/2016/12/24/glendinning-has-big-shoes-to/21839596007/ |title=Glendinning has big shoes to fill with MU baseball team |publisher=Columbiatribune.com |date=24 December 2016 |accessdate=14 July 2022}} In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=999598 |title=Robbie Glendinning |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=16 July 2022}}

Professional career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Glendinning in the 21st round, with the 628th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/aussie-baseballer-robbie-glendinning-is-off-to-the-mlb-big-time-with-the-pittsburgh-pirates-ng-b88507880z|title=Robbie Glendinning is off to baseball's big time|date=17 June 2017|website=The West Australian}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-15/mlb-draft-sends-robbie-glendinning-from-perth-to-pittsburgh/8622432 |title=MLB draft sends Aussie baseballer Robbie Glendinning from Perth to Pittsburgh Pirates – ABC News |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=Abc.net.au |date= 15 June 2017|accessdate=14 July 2022}} He made his professional debut with the Low-A West Virginia Black Bears, hitting .198 in 29 games. He spent the 2018 season split between the Black Bears and the Single-A West Virginia Power, slashing .268/.360/.381 with 2 home runs and 29 RBI across 59 cumulative games.{{Cite web|title=Robbie Glendinning Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/93721/robbie-glendinning/|access-date=2023-06-04|website=baseballamerica.com|date=9 March 2023 |language=en}} In 2019, Glendinning split time between the High-A Bradenton Marauders and Double-A Altoona Curve. In 101 total contests, he batted .298/.368/.488 with career-highs in home runs (13), RBI (57), and stolen bases (8).{{Cite web|title=Robbie Glendinning Returns Stronger from Tommy John Surgery|url=https://www.piratesprospects.com/2022/02/robbie-glendinning-returns-stronger-from-tommy-john-surgery.html|access-date=2023-06-04|website=piratesprospects.com|date=15 February 2022 |language=en}}

He did not play in the United States in 2020 after the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=2023-06-04|website=mlb.com|language=en}} but played for the Perth Heat in the 2020–21 Australian Baseball League season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/comment-news/perth-heat-star-robbie-glendinning-hoping-to-turn-major-league-pain-into-australian-baseball-league-gain-c-1706159|title=COVID dents Perth star's MLB dream|date=9 December 2020|website=Community News}} On 11 February 2021, it was announced that Glendinning would require Tommy John surgery after suffering a complete tear of his ulnar collateral ligament while playing catch during a practice. The procedure caused him to miss the entire 2021 season.{{Cite web|title=Robbie Glendinning Needs Tommy John Surgery; Will Miss 2021 Season|url=https://pirates.pittsburghbaseball.com/2021/02/11/robbie-glendinning-needs-tommy-john-surgery-will-miss-2021-season/|access-date=2023-06-04|website=pirates.pittsburghbaseball.com|date=11 February 2021 |language=en}} On 21 February 2022, Glendinning was released by the Pirates organization.{{Cite web|title=Pittsburgh Pirates News: Infield Prospect Released|url=https://rumbunter.com/2022/02/22/pittsburgh-pirates-released-robbie-glendinning/|access-date=2023-06-04|website=rumbunter.com|date=22 February 2022 |language=en}}

=Kansas City Royals=

On 22 February 2022, Glendinning signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization.{{Cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-heat-star-robbie-glendinning-signs-minor-league-deal-with-kansas-city-royals-c-5841730|title=Perth Heat ace inks minor-league deal with MLB outfit|date=25 February 2022|website=The West Australian}} He spent the season with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, playing in 118 games and hitting .252/.373/.439 while setting new career-highs in home runs (19), RBI (76), and stolen bases (11).{{Cite web|title=8 blazing bats fire hot KC Royals spring start|url=https://kingsofkauffman.com/posts/8-blazing-bats-fire-hot-kc-royals-spring-start|access-date=2023-06-04|website=kingsofkauffman.com|date=4 March 2023 |language=en}}

He began the 2023 season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/18/glendinning-hits-a-pair-of-homers-as-northwest/|title=Glendinning hits a pair of homers as Northwest Arkansas plays long ball|date=18 April 2023|website=Arkansas Online}} In 26 games for the Naturals, Glendinning batted .242/.373/.363 with 2 home runs and 16 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Orioles' Robbie Glendinning: Headed to Orioles|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-robbie-glendinning-headed-to-orioles/amp/|access-date=2023-06-04|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On 18 May 2023, the Royals traded Glendinning to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations, The Orioles subsequently assigned him to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-orioles-roster-move-may-18-2023|title=Orioles Roster Move May 18, 2023|website=MLB.com}} In 33 games for Norfolk, he batted .248/.331/.476 with 6 home runs and 16 RBI. Glendinning was released by the Orioles organization on 7 August.{{Cite web|title=Robbie Glendinning Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/robbie-glendinning-674671|access-date=August 9, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}}

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On 8 August 2023, Glendinning signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.{{Cite web|title=Phillies sign Australian-born infielder to minor league contract|url=https://thatballsouttahere.com/posts/phillies-sign-australian-born-infielder-to-minor-league-contract|access-date=August 9, 2023|website=thatballsouttahere.com|language=en}} He played in five games for the Double–A Reading Fightin Phils, going 5–for–16 (.313) with no home runs, two RBI, and four walks. Glendinning elected free agency following the season on 6 November.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=March 20, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Olmecas de Tabasco=

On 11 April 2024, Glendinning signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. In three games for Tabasco, Glendinning went 0–for–6 and struck out twice.

=Bravos de León=

On 22 April 2024, Glendinning was traded to the Bravos de León of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 22 de abril de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-22-de-abril-de-2024|access-date=April 23, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} In 19 games for León, Glendinning batted .255/.359/.546 with three home runs and 12 RBI.

=Caliente de Durango=

On 20 May 2024, Glendinning and Sam Travis were traded to the Caliente de Durango in exchange for Alberth Martínez.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 20 de mayo de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-20-de-mayo-de-2024|access-date=May 21, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} In 19 games, he batted .288/.381/.452 with 11 hits and 11 RBI. On 17 June, Glendinning was released by Durango.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 17 de junio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-17-de-junio-de-2024|access-date=June 19, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}

=Kansas City Monarchs=

On 3 January 2025, Glendinning signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2024-transactions/|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}}

International career

Glendinning played for Team Australia in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-perez-witt-singer-on-world-baseball-classic-rosters | title=Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr. & Brady Singer headline 2023 World Baseball Classic rosters | website=MLB.com }}