MJ Melendez Bio
Mervyl Samuel Melendez Jr. (born November 29, 1998) is an American professional baseball player who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets. He primarily plays as a left fielder and catcher. Melendez was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in 2022. Through his major league career spanning 2022 to present, he has compiled 56 career home runs and 174 runs batted in across 412 games.
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. He was a member of the United States national baseball team in 2016. Melendez committed to play college baseball at Florida International University before beginning his professional career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Melendez was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2017 MLB Draft. He signed with Kansas City for $2.1 million. After signing, he made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals, posting a .262 batting average with four home runs and 30 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, earning All-Star honors. He continued to advance through the minor leagues with stops in Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas before reaching Triple-A Omaha.
MJ Melendez Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Melendez steadily progressed through the Royals minor league system. In 2019 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A Carolina League, he was named an All-Star while slashing .163/.260/.311 with nine home runs and 54 RBI over 110 games. He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the minor league season. To begin 2021, he was assigned to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of Double-A Central, where he earned Double-A Central Player of the Month honors for July after batting .333 with 12 home runs. He was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Triple-A in early August, where he slashed .293/.413/.620 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI over 44 games. His total of 41 home runs for the season led all of minor league baseball, making him the first catcher ever to win the Joe Bauman Home Run Award.
Kansas City Royals Breakthrough (2022–2025)
Melendez was added to the Royals 40-man roster on November 19, 2021, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft. On May 2, 2022, while playing for Omaha, he received news that he was being called up to the majors. He made his MLB debut on May 17, hitting his first career home run against the Chicago White Sox. On July 4, Melendez recorded his first career multi-homer game against the Houston Astros. He finished his rookie season with 129 appearances, batting .217 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. In 2023, Melendez made 148 appearances while slashing .235/.316/.398 with 16 home runs, 56 RBI, and six stolen bases. He played 135 games for Kansas City in 2024, hitting .206/.273/.400 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI. In 2025, he appeared in only 23 games, going 5-for-60 with one home run before being non-tendered by the Royals on November 21, becoming 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. On April 15, he was called up to the major leagues, replacing the injured Jared Young during the Mets series at Dodger Stadium. In his first game for the Mets, Melendez went 2-for-4, hitting two doubles off Shohei Ohtani. On May 29, he hit his first career walk-off home run against the Miami Marlins.
Driving Style and Strengths
Melendez has established himself as a power hitter throughout his professional career. His standout season came in 2021 when he led all minor league players with 41 home runs, earning the Joe Bauman Home Run Award as the first catcher to ever win the award. His ability to impact games with his bat has been his calling card at every level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Melendez made his MLB debut in 2022 and has since accumulated 56 career home runs and 174 RBI. His international experience includes playing for the Puerto Rico national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He has played both catcher and left fielder professionally. Melendez was selected 52nd overall in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.
MJ Melendez Career Wins
Melendez has compiled 56 career home runs and 174 RBI across his major league tenure. His power was evident even in the minors, particularly during his 2021 campaign when he hit 41 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A levels, leading all minor league players and becoming the first catcher to win the Joe Bauman Home Run Award. He made his MLB debut in 2022 and has since appeared in 412 major league games with a .213 batting average.
Kansas City Royals Highlights
Melendez was selected by Kansas City in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft and signed for $2.1 million. His international experience includes playing for Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His father Mervyl Melendez is a college baseball coach.
Other Wins and Performances
Melendez has experience at both catcher and left fielder positions throughout his professional career spanning 2022 to present.
MJ Melendez Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Melendez comes from a baseball family. His father, Mervyl Melendez, is a college baseball coach who has been influential throughout his career.
Personal Life
Melendez maintains strong family ties and focuses on his career development within professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a challenging year for Melendez. He appeared in only 23 games with the Kansas City Royals, going 5-for-60 with one home run and one stolen base. In November 2025, the Royals non-tendered Melendez, making him a free agent. He signed with the New York Mets in February 2026 on a one-year contract worth $1.5 million and was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the regular season. Melendez was called up to the major leagues in mid-April 2026 to replace an injured player. In his debut with the Mets, he made an immediate impact, going 2-for-4 with two doubles off Shohei Ohtani at Dodger Stadium. In late May, Melendez recorded his first career walk-off home run against the Miami Marlins. The 2026 season represents a fresh start for Melendez as he looks to establish himself as a consistent contributor for the Mets.