MJ Melendez Bio
Mervyl Samuel Melendez Jr., known professionally as MJ Melendez, is an American professional baseball player born on November 29, 1998. A versatile athlete who has played both left fielder and catcher, he has spent time in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets. Known for his right-handed power at the plate, Melendez rose through the minors as a highly regarded catching prospect before transitioning into an outfield role at the highest level.
Early Life and Background
Melendez attended St. James School in Montgomery, Alabama for three years before transferring to Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, Florida for his senior year. During his amateur career, he earned a spot on the United States national team in 2016, showcasing his skills against elite international competition. Following high school, Melendez committed to play college baseball at Florida International University, positioning himself as one of the top catching prospects in his draft class.
His father, Mervyl Melendez, is a college baseball coach, and the family background helped shape MJ’s early understanding of the game. The combination of strong coaching at home and a competitive high school program provided a steady foundation for his development as a power-hitting catcher.
Path to Baseball
The Kansas City Royals selected Melendez in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, recognizing his bat speed and defensive potential behind the plate. He signed with the Royals for $2.1 million, choosing to begin his professional career immediately rather than attend college. That signing bonus reflected the organization’s confidence in his long-term outlook as a middle-of-the-order bat.
After signing, Melendez made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals, where he posted a .262 batting average with four home runs and thirty RBI over 47 games. He spent 2018 with the Lexington Legends of the Single-A South Atlantic League, slashing .251/.322/.492 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI in 111 games and earning All-Star honors. He moved to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A Carolina League in 2019 and was again named an All-Star, demonstrating steady progression through the Royals’ farm system.
MJ Melendez Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Melendez’s first full professional season came in 2018 with Lexington, where his 19 home runs established him as a power-hitting catching prospect. His All-Star selection that year signaled his readiness for higher competition. He followed it up with another All-Star campaign at Wilmington in 2019, though his offensive numbers dipped as he adjusted to more advanced pitching.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Melendez did not appear in a game that year. The interruption, while frustrating, gave him time to refine his approach before returning to the field in 2021.
Minor League Breakout (2021)
To begin the 2021 season, Melendez was assigned to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Central, where he quickly made an impression. He earned Double-A Central Player of the Month honors for July after batting .333 with 12 home runs over the course of the month. After slashing .285/.372/.628 with 28 home runs and 65 RBI over 79 games, he was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A East in early August.
Over 44 games with Omaha, Melendez slashed .293/.413/.620 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI, finishing the year with a minor-league-leading 41 home runs. That total made him the first catcher ever to win the Joe Bauman Home Run Award, a milestone that cemented his status as one of the top power-hitting prospects in baseball. On November 19, 2021, the Royals added him to their 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft.
Kansas City Royals Era (2022–2025)
Melendez returned to Omaha to begin the 2022 season before receiving his call to the majors. On May 2, 2022, while playing designated hitter for Omaha, his manager informed him in the dugout that he was headed for the big leagues. He made his MLB debut that May and on May 17 hit his first career home run against the Chicago White Sox, off Tanner Banks. On July 4, he recorded his first career multi-homer game, going deep twice against the Houston Astros. He finished his rookie campaign with 129 appearances, batting .217/.313/.393 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI.
In 2023, Melendez made 148 appearances for the Royals, slashing .235/.316/.398 with 16 home runs, 56 RBI, and six stolen bases while gradually shifting into more time in the outfield. During the 2024 season, he played in 135 contests, hitting .206/.273/.400 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI. His 2025 campaign was brief, as he appeared in only 23 games for Kansas City, going 5-for-60 with one home run, one RBI, and three stolen bases. On November 21, 2025, the Royals non-tendered him, making him a free agent.
New York Mets Era (2026–Present)
On February 12, 2026, Melendez signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the New York Mets. He was optioned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets to begin the regular season, continuing his development in a new organization. On April 15, he was called up to the major leagues, replacing the injured Jared Young, and joined the Mets during their series at Dodger Stadium.
In his first game for the Mets, Melendez went 2-for-4 and struck two doubles off Shohei Ohtani, announcing his arrival in New York with immediate production. On May 29, he hit his first career walk-off home run in a game against the Miami Marlins, providing one of the early signature moments of his Mets tenure. Through his time with both clubs, his career batting average stood at .213 with 56 home runs and 174 RBI.
Driving Style and Strengths
Melendez is recognized for his right-handed power, with the ability to drive the ball to all fields and lift it for home runs when he gets his pitch. Defensively, he has shown the athleticism to handle both catcher and left field, giving managers flexibility when constructing lineups. His arm strength remains a notable asset regardless of position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Melendez became the first catcher ever to win the Joe Bauman Home Run Award in 2021 after slugging 41 home runs across the minors. His first career multi-homer game on July 4, 2022, against the Astros, highlighted his power potential at the MLB level. His walk-off home run against the Marlins on May 29, 2026, marked a memorable early highlight with the Mets.
MJ Melendez Career Wins
Across his professional career, MJ Melendez has built a résumé anchored by power-hitting milestones and individual awards in the minor leagues, with steady if streaky production at the major league level. His awards include All-Star selections in the South Atlantic League (2018) and Carolina League (2019), the Double-A Central Player of the Month honor for July 2021, and the Joe Bauman Home Run Award that same year.
Minor League Highlights
Melendez’s most celebrated minor league moment came in 2021, when his 41 home runs led all of professional baseball and earned him the Joe Bauman Home Run Award. He also earned All-Star nods in 2018 with Lexington and 2019 with Wilmington, a sign of consistent respect from opposing managers and league officials.
Other Performances
Melendez represented the Puerto Rico national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, gaining valuable experience on the international stage. His transition to the outfield during his Royals years added a new dimension to his game and helped extend his MLB career.
MJ Melendez Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Baseball runs in the Melendez family. His father, Mervyl Melendez, is a college baseball coach, and MJ has spoken about the influence his father had on his understanding of the game’s fundamentals. Growing up around coaching and competition helped shape his approach to the sport.
Personal Life
In 2022, MJ Melendez was among ten Royals players unable to travel to Canada to play the Toronto Blue Jays due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19, as public health policies at the time prohibited unvaccinated non-citizens from entering the country. The episode drew attention to the broader debate around vaccination policies in professional sports during that period.
2025 Season Performance
Melendez’s 2025 season with the Kansas City Royals was his shortest at the major league level. He appeared in only 23 games, going 5-for-60 with one home run, one RBI, and three stolen bases, a stark drop from his earlier production. The limited role reflected both his offensive struggles and the organization’s evolving plans at his positions.
On November 21, 2025, the Royals non-tendered Melendez, making him a free agent and opening the door to a fresh start elsewhere. The decision allowed him to seek a clearer opportunity with a new club heading into the following season. Shortly after, he signed with the New York Mets, beginning a new chapter in his career.
