Scouting the Draft: Comping Jimmy Glowenke

The Giants second compensation pick, #67 overall, in the 2020 draft was a player not to many fans were expecting, IF Jimmy Glowenke.  That might be due to his #171 pre-draft ranking on MLB Pipeline.  The name alone conjures images of a scrappy player and it turns out he played for a college, Dallas Baptist, that seems to specialize in over-achieving, scrappy players.  I thought for the Jimmy Glowenke comp post, it might be enlightening to look at some of those Dallas Baptist predecessors.  Here is a partial list of players drafted out of Dallas Baptist University:

Freddy Sanchez 2B(Played 1 season in 1999 then transferred to Oklahoma City University for his senior season then was drafted the Red Sox in 2000).

Lew Ford OF 1999

Ben Zobrist IF 2004

Ryan Goins IF 2009.

First, we'll review Glowenke's college stats then compare them to these other scrappy Dallas Baptist alumni:

Jimmy Glowenke IF.  B-R, T-R.  5'11", 185 lbs.

2018:  .336/.432/.546, 16 2B, 3B, 10 HR, 5 SB, 31 BB, 26 K, 229 AB.
2019:  .328/.429/.467, 16 2B, 6 HR, 2 SB, 31 BB, 45 K, 244 AB.
2020:  .415/.458/.509, 2 2B, HR, SB, 5 BB, 5 K, 53 AB.
2019 CCBL:  .296, 6 2B, 2 HR, 12 BB, 14 K, 135 AB.

Scouting report is he is a surehanded IF but probably lack range for 2B and might not have arm or bat for 3B so 2B is most likely pro position. The hitting skills are obvious with excellent plate discipline and line-drive/gap power.

Freddy Sanchez 2B.  B-R, T-R.  6'0", 200 lbs.

Giants fans should like this comp. Freddy's Giants career was not long but it was certainly impactful. I cannot find DBU stats for 1999, Freddy's junior season there.  He transferred to Oklahoma City University for his senior season, 2000, and hit .434 with 13 HR's.  DBU and OCU were both NAIA schools at the time.  We know enough about Freddy's MLB career, though, to know he was a very similar player to what Jimmy Glowenke would comp to.

Lew Ford OF.  B-R, T-R.  6'0" 190 lbs.

Again, I can't find any Dallas Baptist stats for Lew Ford except he still holds the DBU record for BA with a .507.  He actually had a pretty darn good MLB season for the Twins in 2004 with a line of .299/.381/.446, 31 2B, 4 3B, 15 HR, 20 SB, 67 BB, 75 K, 658 PA.  Again, similar size and hitting style as Jimmy Glowenke with a bit more speed on the basepaths.

Ben Zobrist IF.  B-S, T-R.  6'3", 200 lbs.

2004(Senior):  .378/.448/.590, 15 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 22 SB, 29 BB, 31 K, 261 PA.

Significantly bigger size and a switch-hitter and more speed.  The overall batting line is similar, though.  Glowenke would be unlikely to have Zobrist's peak power of 27 HR's.

Ryan Goins IF.  B-L, T-R.  5'11", 185 lbs.

2007:  .267/.353/.333, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K, 17 PA.
2008:  .357/.404/.599, 14 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 6 SB, 17 BB, 41 K, 232 PA.
2009:  .371/.478/.765, 17 HR, 2 2B, 22 HR, 11 SB, 46 BB, 36 K, 270 PA.

Similar size as Glowenke but bats left and hit for way more power in college.  Goins has had trouble finding traction at the MLB level with 2017 with the Blue Jays being the only season he has not split time between the majors and minor leagues.  Career MLB slash line of .230/.279/.335.  Goins had terrific plate discipline his junior season but was terrible the year before While Glowenke has shown excellent strike zone control his entire college career.

Conclusion:  Glowenke produced competitive stats from a school that has produced several major leaguers with similar profiles.  I would estimate that his absolute ceiling would be somewhere between Freddy Sanchez and Ben Zobrist.  A more physical version of Freddy Sanchez with a bit more power.  Definitely less power potential than Zobrist.  His likely ceiling is more in line with Lew Ford or Ryan Goins although I think he has a significantly better hit tool and plate discipline than Goins.