MJ Melendez - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Cubs hand Mets their 11th straight loss by rallying for a 2-1 win in 10 innings

Nico Hoerner hit a sacrifice fly off Craig Kimbrel in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs sent the New York Mets to their 11th consecutive loss by rallying for a 2-1 victory

1 HOUR AGO • Associated Press

Gaining traction in lineup Melendez will start at designated hitter and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Impact Melendez will pick up his fourth straight start after going 4-for-10 with two doubles, two walks, one run and one RBI since receiving a call-up from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. With Jorge Polanco (wrist) recently landing on the injured list, Melendez should have a fairly clear path to regular playing time against right-handed pitching, especially while he's wielding one of the hotter bats for a Mets squad that is taking a 10-game losing streak into Sunday.

5 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Two doubles in Mets debut Melendez went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Getting the start at DH and batting eighth in his season debut, Melendez banged out two-baggers against Shohei Ohtani in the third and fifth innings, with the second bringing home the Mets' first run of the night. Melendez could see consistent at-bats against right-handed pitching in the short term while Juan Soto (calf) and others are on the shelf, especially if he keeps supplying a slumbering offense with a spark, but the former Royal's career .216/.297/.389 slash line in the majors doesn't offer much optimism that he'll carve out a long-term spot on the roster.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

4 Takeaways From the Dodgers' Sweep Over the Mets

The Dodgers are the best team in MLB, while the Mets' struggle continues.

3 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

4 Takeaways From the Dodgers' Sweep Over the Mets

Ohtani skips the bat, keeps the heat: 10 strikeouts as Dodgers send Mets to a 8th straight loss

Shohei Ohtani pitched six strong innings, striking out 10, as the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the New York Mets 8-2

3 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Shohei Ohtani pitches but doesn't bat for first time since 2021. He's still sore from a hit-by-pitch

Shohei Ohtani was the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night but he was held out of the lineup as designated hitter

3 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Recalled by NYM The Mets recalled Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

Impact Melendez opened the season in Triple-A after failing to make the Mets' Opening Day roster, where he is slashing .216/.286/.431 with one steal (on three attempts), two home runs and three RBI in 56 plate appearances. He'll give the Mets depth in the outfield after Jacob Young (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Misses Opening Day roster The Mets optioned Melendez to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

Impact The 27-year-old joined the Mets on a one-year, $1.5 million contract in February after being non-tendered by the Royals at the start of the offseason. Melendez went 4-for-11 with two homers in his four spring games with the Mets but struggled for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, going 0-for-4 with two walks and two strikeouts. He could be up with the Mets at some point this season with Juan Soto, Luis Robert, Carson Benge and Tyrone Taylor set to begin the campaign as the club's top four outfielders.

MARCH 17 • ROTOWIRE

New York Mets sign outfielder MJ Melendez to a 1-year contract

MJ Melendez and the New York Mets have agreed to a one-year contract, adding depth to an outfield thinned by offseason trades

FEBRUARY 13 • Associated Press

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

FEBRUARY 8 • 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.

FEBRUARY 8 • 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 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

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

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

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