Robbie Glendinning and Joshuan Sandoval headshots

Monarchs Sign Former Royals Prospect Glendinning, MNU Grad Sandoval

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Two impact players have joined the Kansas City Monarchs to kick off 2025. Robbie Glendinning, a former Royals middle-infield prospect from Australia, and Joshuan Sandoval, a first baseman and catcher, have signed with the team, the Monarchs announced Monday.

Both players have ties to local colleges. Glendinning played for Missouri in 2017, while Sandoval spent five years at MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe.

Glendinning and Sandoval are the first two infielders to sign with Kansas City for the upcoming season. They join outfielder Maxwell Costes and pitcher Jeff Hakanson on the Monarchs’ 2025 roster. The Monarchs open the 2025 campaign on May 9 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Glendinning hails from Scarborough, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth. He put on a show at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, hitting two home runs with six RBIs over five games.

The 29-year-old also represented his country at the WBSC Premier12 in 2019 and 2024. He went 3-for-14 with a home run over four games in the 2024 tournament, held this past November.

“We’re really excited about Robbie Glendinning,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “I think he could really be a plus bat in our league. He’s an experienced guy. I think he’s going to produce some offense in the middle of the order.”

The Pirates drafted Glendinning in the 21st round in 2017 after he posted an .849 OPS that year at Mizzou. He reached Double-A in 2019.

Glendinning remained with the Pirates through 2021, a year he missed due to injury. He signed with the Royals ahead of the 2022 campaign, where he earned an .813 OPS at Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

A natural shortstop, Glendinning spent 2023 between the Royals, Orioles and Phillies organizations. In 2024, he suited up for three different teams in the Mexican summer league.

In the North American winter, Glendinning has played in the Australian Baseball League for seven seasons. As of Monday he holds a .305 batting average and .900 OPS over 26 games with Melbourne in the 2024-25 season.

Born in Manati, Puerto Rico, Sandoval attended the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy before heading to MidAmerica Nazarene.

Sandoval hit 62 home runs over 206 games at MNU, including a 21-homer season in 2021 where he posted a .397 average and 1.324 OPS.

The 27-year-old has played 25 MiLB games over three years with the Tampa Bay Rays, with whom he signed out of college as an undrafted free agent.

“Joshuan brings a great combination of youth and experience,” Calfapietra said. “He’ll be able to contribute at multiple positions for us. I think he’s a great fit for our team and am excited to have him in Kansas City.”

For more on the Kansas City Monarchs, visit MonarchsBaseball.com.