Robert Glendinning

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2017
A-:  198/342/229, 96 AB, 3 2B, 17 BB, 41 K, 2-5 SB

Glendinning didn’t join Morgantown until mid-July.  He split time after that between short, third and DH, with half his games coming at short.  He didn’t do much at the plate beyond drawing walks and he struck out in over a third of his plate appearances.

2018
A-:  250/364/369, 84 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 13 BB, 28 K, 1-2 SB
A:  282/358/391, 110 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 13 BB, 28 K, 1-4 SB

Glendinning made good progress with his hitting.  The Pirates initially sent him back to Morgantown and he struggled in June, but in July he started hitting and, at mid-month, the Pirates promoted him to West Virginia.  He continued hitting well there.  Overall, he made better contact and showed some power.  He hit well against LHPs, with an .822 OPS.  He split his time between second and short at Morgantown, then at West Virginia played more at second and third.

2019
A+:  340/393/599, 162 AB, 16 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 14 BB, 50 K, 6-8 SB
AA:  261/346/391, 184 AB, 7 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 24 BB, 65 K, 2-3 SB

Glendinning seemed to have settled in as an organizational utility player, but he suddenly started to hit, a lot, at Bradenton.  He actually started the season at Altoona due to an opening there, but once he got to Bradenton he hit his way into the lineup at shortstop (with Oneil Cruz hurt).  He put up huge numbers for the pitching-dominated Florida State League; in fact, he was the best hitter in the league, although he was a little old for the level.  Had he qualified, he’d have led the league in average, slugging and OPS, the last two by wide margins.  The Pirates promoted Glendinning to Altoona in mid-June.  He initially played short there, then third when Cruz was promoted, until he missed the last three weeks with an injury.  He continued mashing the ball at first, with a .999 OPS in 15 June games, but he hit a bad slump in July, with just a .530 OPS.  He seemed to be coming around in August when he went out with an ankle injury.  Overall, Glendinning hammered LHPs for a .958 OPS, compared to .820 against RHPs.  His defense at short and third was probably more passable than anything, although his range isn’t bad.

It’ll be interesting to see what the Pirates have with Glendinning.  He’ll be 24 at the start of 2020, but considering that he’s from Australia, it’s plausible that he just needed more time to catch up to the competition he’s faced.  He’s not even eligible for the Rule 5 draft for another year.