MJ Melendez - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Mets sign former top prospect MJ Melendez to one-year deal The Mets have added some positional versatility ahead of the 2026 season.

1 DAY AGO • NYPOST.COM

Inks deal with NYM Melendez agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Mets on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact The 27-year-old was non-tendered by the Royals in November, but he was eventually able to land an MLB contract for 2026. The Mets have avoided spending big on a left fielder this winter with top prospect Carson Benge on the cusp of his major-league debut, but Melendez represents a low-cost option that provides short-term depth. Melendez clubbed 51 homers from 2022 to 2024 but has a career .215 average in the majors and played in just 23 big-league games last season.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cut loose by KC The Royals did not tender Melendez a contract for 2026 on Friday, making him a free agent.

Impact Melendez had the potential to be a key lineup piece for Kansas City after clubbing 18 homers as a rookie in 2022 and posting a .714 OPS the following season, but he regressed the past two years. The 26-year-old went 5-for-65 with a 35.4 percent strikeout rate in just 23 big-league games during 2025.

NOVEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back to Triple-A The Royals optioned Melendez to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Impact With the Royals' acquisitions of Randal Grichuk and Mike Yastrzemski this past week, Melendez will head back to the minors. Melendez has slashed an ugly .083/.154/.167 with one home run, one RBI, five runs scored and a 3:23 BB:K across 65 plate appearances at the major-league level this season.

AUGUST 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Royals' trade deadline moves aim to balance winning now and building for the future

The Kansas City Royals have made strategic moves at the trade deadline, acting as both buyers and sellers

AUGUST 1, 2025 • Associated Press

Nine pitchers, one shutout: How the Royals made history against the Braves with a 1-0 victory

The Kansas City Royals have made history by using nine relievers to achieve a 1-0 shutout against the Atlanta Braves

JULY 30, 2025 • Associated Press

Perez's single in 10th lifts Royals over Braves 1-0. KC ties record by using 9 pitchers in shutout

Salvador Perez drove in MJ Melendez with a single in the 10th inning, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 1-0 win over the Atlanta Braves

JULY 30, 2025 • Associated Press

Royals place infielder/outfielder Nick Loftin on concussion IL, recall MJ Melendez

The Kansas City Royals placed infielder/outfielder Nick Loftin on the seven-day concussion injured list and recalled outfielder MJ Melendez from Triple-A Omaha before Wednesday aft...

JULY 23, 2025 • Associated Press

Back up from minors The Royals recalled Melendez from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Impact He's taking the roster spot vacated by Nick Loftin, who was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list. Melendez was sent down to Omaha back in April after a 4-for-47 start to the season. He was predictably better at Omaha, although Melendez wasn't exactly begging for a promotion with a .252/.300/.472 batting line there. The 26-year-old will get some looks in the outfield against right-handed pitching, but he might be used more in a reserve role.

JULY 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back up from minors The Royals recalled Melendez from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Impact He's taking the 26-man active roster spot vacated by Nick Loftin, who was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list. Melendez was sent down to Omaha back in April after a 4-for-47 start to the season. He was predictably better at Omaha, although Melendez wasn't exactly begging for a promotion with a .252/.300/.472 batting line over 317 plate appearances in the International League. The 26-year-old will get some looks in the outfield against right-handed pitching, but he might be used more in a reserve role.

JULY 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Royals option MJ Melendez to Triple-A Omaha after disappointing start to season The Royals have made a roster move regarding a struggling MJ Melendez.

APRIL 19, 2025 • KANSASCITY.COM

Optioned to Triple-A The Royals optioned Melendez to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

Impact Melendez has logged just one base hit across his last seven games and only three since the beginning of April. He'll now head to the minors in order to sort things out at the plate, making room on the active roster for Mark Canha (hip) to return from the IL.

APRIL 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting again Saturday Melendez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Detroit.

Impact Melendez has now been absent from the starting nine in each of Kansas City's last three games, which may indicate a change in the depth chart following a 4-for-47 start from the 26-year-old. Drew Waters will start in left field and bat seventh.

APRIL 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Friday Melendez is not in the Royals' starting lineup against the Tigers on Friday.

Impact Melendez will sit for a second straight game while Drew Waters starts in left field and bats eighth against Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe. Melendez has gone 1-for-20 with a solo home run and eight strikeouts over his last five games.

APRIL 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from lineup Melendez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Detroit.

Impact Right-hander Reese Olson is on the bump for the Tigers, but the left-handed-hitting Melendez will grab a seat. Drew Waters will start in left field and bat eighth for the Royals.

APRIL 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hits first homer of 2025 Melendez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Yankees.

Impact Melendez entered Tuesday's game with a .285 OPS, 36.4 strikeout rate and zero RBI across 44 plate appearances, but he managed to get the Royals on the board with a solo homer off Max Fried in the third inning. Melendez's early-season play has put him in jeopardy of losing out on his starting role, but Tuesday's homer is hopefully a sign of things to come for the Royals and the 26-year-old outfielder.

APRIL 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hitting bench Monday Melendez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

Impact The Royals will move both of their struggling corner outfielders to the bench Monday, as Melendez (.285 OPS, 36.4 percent strikeout rate in 44 plate appearances) and Hunter Renfroe (.363 OPS, 27.9 percent strikeout rate in 43 plate appearances) give way to Drew Waters and Cavan Biggio in left and right field, respectively. Melendez's track record at the big-league level will likely buy him some time to work his way out of the extended slump, though his grasp on an everyday role has loosened since the beginning of the season. He's now started in just three of the Royals' last six games.

APRIL 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to bench Wednesday Melendez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Impact The Royals often shield the left-handed-hitting Melendez from opposing southpaws, but he'll take a seat Wednesday while the Twins send a right-hander (Joe Ryan) to the hill. Melendez's move to the bench comes while he's gotten off to a horrid start to the season, slashing .115/.258/.154 with a 38.7 percent strikeout rate over 31 plate appearances. If Melendez is unable to turn things around soon, he could find himself out of the lineup versus righties on a more consistent basis.

APRIL 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to bench Wednesday Melendez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

APRIL 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Isbel goes 3 for 4 with a home run as the Royals beat the Twins 4-2

Kyle Isbel went 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, Michael Lorenzen allowed one run in six innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2

APRIL 8, 2025 • Associated Press

Sitting against lefty Melendez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact Melendez and fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Kyle Isbel will head to the bench for the series finale while the Orioles send southpaw Cade Povich to the bump. The Royals will roll out a starting outfield of Mark Canha, Maikel Garcia and Hunter Renfroe from left to right.

APRIL 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

MJ Melendez reflects on slow start with Royals: 'I know (results) will come' How long will the Kansas City Royals stick with MJ Melendez?

APRIL 5, 2025 • KANSASCITY.COM

Absent from lineup Melendez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's tilt in Milwaukee.

Impact The Royals have faced all right-handers so far this season and Melendez has now been in the lineup for four of six contests. He will yield left field to Cavan Biggio, who is batting seventh in Wednesday's game.

APRIL 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Sunday Melendez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Melendez went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts in the first two games of the year and will sit for Sunday's series finale. Jonathan India will move out to left field while Freddy Fermin replaces Melendez in the lineup against Cleveland righty Tanner Bibee.

MARCH 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

AL Central Preview: Four solid teams, and then the White Sox

The American League Central was a surprisingly strong division last season, with four teams finishing above

MARCH 17, 2025 • Associated Press

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