Orlando City Signs Former Saint Louis FC Goalkeeper Adam Grinwis

Orlando City continued its busy week by signing former Saint Louis FC goalkeeper Adam Grinwis today. The 25-year-old native of Ada, MI, is a three-year pro who made 61 saves in the USL last season with five clean sheets in 14 appearances. He was a member of the USL’s Rochester Rhinos in 2015 and 2016 and will now battle Earl Edwards Jr. for the No. 2 spot behind Joe Bendik.

“Adam impressed in our preseason friendly last season and has a track record of success in the USL,” General Manager Niki Budalic said in a club press release. “His athleticism, character and competitiveness will fit in well with our group of goalkeepers.”

The team got a good look at Grinwis in a preseason friendly at Orlando City Stadium which the Lions won, 3-1, on Feb. 25 of last year.

Grinwis earned one of his five 2017 shutouts against Orlando City B in a 0-0 draw at Orlando City Stadium on April 27, stopping all three of OCB’s shots on target and facing nine total attempts. He was on the bench for the second meeting against OCB, which Saint Louis FC won, 2-0, on Sept. 16.

He played his collegiate soccer at the University of Michigan, appearing in 68 games over four years. Grinwis was named Michigan Club Man of the Year as a fifth-year senior in 2014, and was a Second-Team All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Tournament selection in 2012. He finished his college career with the second-most career saves (261) and shutouts in a season (6) for the Wolverines.

Additionally, Grinwis played in 29 games with the PDL’s Michigan Bucks from 2010 to 2012.

What it Means for Orlando City

Grinwis is the same age as Edwards Jr. and the two should duel for the backup spot behind Bendik, with one of the two going to OCB should it field a team in 2018. Grinwis runs 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds as compared to Edwards’ 6-foot-3 and 205. Competition is always a good thing to keep everyone sharp, but if the club doesn’t field a USL team this season, one of these two is going out on loan.

This is a move aimed purely at depth and having a pair of young goalkeepers battling for essentially one spot should bring the best out of both, but it would not be surprising if one of the two is moved elsewhere prior to the 2018 season.