Phillies sign Australian-born infielder to minor league contract
Per reports, the Philadelphia Phillies are signing Australian-born infielder Robbie Glendinning to a minor league contract.
By Eric Treuden
Per multiple reports, including one from MLB reporter Alex Carr on Twitter, the Philadelphia Phillies are signing Australian-born infielder Robbie Glendinning to a minor league contract.
The 27-year-old's journey in the Phillies organization is going to be the latest stop in a very, very busy season for him. To kick things off, Glendinning appeared for Team Australia in the 2023 World Baseball Classic before spending time in both the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals organizations. He was released by the Orioles and picked up by the Phillies on the same day.
Glendinning's time in the WBC is especially of note, as he is best known as the batter whose massive three-run home run propelled Australia past Korea in the contest.
Phillies sign intriguing Australian-born infielder to minor league contract.
After being selected in the 21st round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Pirates, Glendinning spent the next few years in their system before moving on to the Royals, where he spent all of last season. In 118 games for the club's Double-A affiliate, he hit a career-high 19 home runs with 76 driven in alongside 11 stolen bases nad a smooth .813 OPS.
This season, he has made a combined 59 appearances split between the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate and the Royals' Double-A one. In that time, he has nine doubles, eight home runs, 32 driven in and a .774 OPS. All signs point to him being more of a defensive player than a bat, but the Phillies could use more of those in the high minors.
Speaking of defense, Glendinning plays all over the infield, which will give the Phillies the defensive versatility that they are known to hold so close to their heart. All throughout his career, the Perth, Australia native has bounced around between all four spots on the infield, with his primary focus being on the corners this year. Now that he is in the Phillies' organization, he will join fellow utilitymen Jim Haley, Nick Podkul, Scott Kingery and Kody Clemens in the club's high-minor leagues.