FRANCISCO MEJÍA NEWS

Homers twice in Game 2 Mejia went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.

Impact The Rays knocked Thomas Hatch around for 10 runs in the nightcap, and Mejia was right in the middle of it. Mejia had three home runs for the season coming into the game. He raised his OPS from .588 to .642 with this one performance and will continue operating as the Rays' No. 1 catcher while Mike Zunino (shoulder) is on the injured list.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat in matinee Mejia isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia went 2-for-12 with five strikeouts over his last four games and will take a seat for a second consecutive game. Rene Pinto is starting at catcher and batting seventh.

JULY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting in series opener Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia was behind the plate for four of the Rays' last five games, so he's likely just getting a maintenance day Tuesday. Rene Pinto will catch for starting pitcher Shane Baz in the series opener with Milwaukee.

JUNE 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Friday Mejia is not starting Friday's contest versus the Pirates, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Mejia will sit after he went 1-for-8 with a double over the last two contests. Rene Pinto will get the start at catcher and bat eighth Friday.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Monday's lineup Mejia isn't starting Monday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia will get a breather after he went 5-for-8 with a double and two runs over the last two matchups. Rene Pinto is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.

JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Perfect night at the plate Mejia went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and a run scored in a 7-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday.

Impact Mejia appears to have broken out of his recent slump. The 26-year-old catcher had a four-hit game after hitting a paltry .103 over his last 10 contests. Mejia will need more consistent production at the plate if he hopes to replicate his .260 average over 277 plate appearances from last season.

JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Friday's lineup Mejia is out of the lineup for Friday's game at Baltimore, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Mejia has worked as Tampa Bay's primary catcher over the past week with Mike Zunino (shoulder) on the shelf, but he's failed to take advantage thus far and is 1-for-17 in his past six contests. Rene Pinto will take over behind the plate Friday.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Swats third homer Mejia went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Thursday against the Yankees.

Impact Mejia took Ryan Weber yard in the fifth inning to record his third homer of the season. He's taken over as the primary catcher in Tampa Bay with Mike Zunino (shoulder) sidelined, but Mejia has only three hits in 25 at-bats across his last eight games. Overall, Mejia is hitting just .206/.212/.353 line across 104 plate appearances on the campaign.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Wednesday Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact After catching in both of the Rays' past two games, Mejia will get a breather while Rene Pinto checks in behind the dish. With Mike Zunino still stuck on the 10-day injured list and not progressing as quickly as anticipated in his recovery from a left shoulder injury, Mejia looks like he could have a clear path to an extended run as Tampa Bay's No. 1 backstop.

JUNE 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Stepping into increased role Mejia went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday against the Twins.

Impact Mejia is set to step into a more significant role behind the plate after Mike Zunino (shoulder) landed on the injured list Friday. Mejia has four doubles in his last nine starts, though he is hitting just .200 in that span with three runs scored. Overall, he is hitting .225/.231/.360 across 91 plate appearances on the season.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Struggling since return Mejia went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored Saturday against the Yankees.

Impact Mejia was behind the dish to make his fourth start in the team's last nine games. He delivered a double in the seventh inning and ultimately came around to score. The effort marked Mejia's first multi-hit game since May 6, the day he was activated from the COVID-19 injured list. Since, he has hit just .171 with three RBI and three runs scored across 13 games. Overall, Mejia has a .263/.259/.421 line across 58 plate appearances on the season.

MAY 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Three hits in return Mejia went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Friday against the Mariners.

Impact Mejia was in the lineup for the first time since being activated from the COVID-19 list Thursday, which caused him to miss two weeks of action. He showed no signs of rust, knocking a single and coming around to score in his first plate appearance. Though Mejia has started only seven games this season due to his lengthy absence, he has at least one hit in five of those contests.

MAY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from injured list Mejia was activated off the COVID-19 injured list Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia has been out for just shy of two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus. Prior to his absence, he'd been splitting time behind the plate with Mike Zunino, starting six of the team's first 13 games, and he'd gotten off to a hot start, hitting .348 with a pair of homers. He should return to a similar role now that he's healthy, with Rene Pinto heading to Triple-A Durham to clear space on the roster.

MAY 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Thursday return possible Mejia (illness) is scheduled to rejoin the Rays in Seattle for their upcoming four-game series, and he's expected to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list either Thursday or...

Impact After clearing all COVID-19-related protocols over the weekend, Mejia reported to the Rays' spring facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. to appear in a pair of simulated games. Mejia has apparently looked good since resuming baseball activities, but the Rays will see how he's feeling Thursday before deciding whether to activate him for the start of the series or to give him an extra day of rest. Whenever he's formally reinstated, Mejia will replace Rene Pinto as the No. 2 option behind top catcher Mike Zunino.

MAY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Two rehab games on tap Manager Kevin Cash said Mejia (illness) will play in rehab games at the Rays' spring facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Monday and Tuesday before being re-evaluated, Joey Johnston...

Impact Mejia rejoined the Rays on Sunday after completing his quarantine and clearing all protocols related to COVID-19, but he'll need at least a couple of days to get his conditioning in order following his initial positive test for the virus April 22. Assuming Mejia checks out fine following his two games in Port Charlotte, he could be formally activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Wednesday's series finale in Oakland.

MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Clears protocols, but not activated Mejia (illness) rejoined the Rays on Sunday after completing a quarantine and clearing all virus-related protocols, but he remains on the COVID-19 injured list, Neil Solondz of the...

Impact Because he's been away from the team for just over a week, Mejia may need a few days to regain conditioning before the Rays are comfortable adding him back to the active roster. Whenever Mejia is ready to go, he'll replace Rene Pinto as the top backup behind No. 1 catcher Mike Zunino.

MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tests positive for COVID-19 Mejia was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday after testing positive for the virus, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, an additional RBI and an additional run Wednesday against the Cubs, and he'll now be unavailable coming off Thursday's scheduled off day. Mike Zunino should continue to work as Tampa Bay's primary catcher, and Rene Pinto was promoted to serve as the backup.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in three Mejia went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against the Cubs.

Impact Mejia contributed to the Rays' four-run first inning with his second home run of the season. Four frames later, he delivered an insurance run with an RBI double. Mejia has split playing time nearly evenly with Mike Zunino behind the plate to begin the season, and he's performed well by logging three multi-hit performances to go along with 10 RBI and five runs scored across seven games.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mejia homers, doubles: Rays rip Cubs 8-2 in shortened game

Francisco Mejia homered and drove in three runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in a game that was called after 5 1/2 innings due to rain

APRIL 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting again Tuesday Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Mejia and Mike Zunino have alternated starts to this point this season, but Zunino will receive the nod for the second straight game Tuesday. Mejia is 6-for-20 with a home run, seven RBI and three runs this year.

APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Monday's lineup Mejia isn't starting Monday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia and Mike Zunino continue to alternate starts behind the dish to begin the year, and the latter will bat eighth as the starting catcher Monday. Mejia has hit .300 with a home run, seven RBI and three runs in six appearances this season.

APRIL 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Homers and plates three Mejia went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs in the 5-3 win over the Orioles on Saturday.

Impact The catcher opened the scoring in the contest, notching a single in the bottom of the second inning off of Jordan Lyles, driving in teammate Josh Lowe before later scoring on a Brett Phillips ground out. Mejia busted the game wide open in the following inning, blasting a 2-2 fastball from Lyles over the fence, once again scoring Lowe and putting the Rays up 5-2. The 26-year-old is expected to operate in a timeshare with Mike Zunino behind the plate this season, though Mejia is the better option against right-handers.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejia leads way again as Rays improve to 2-0 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Catcher Francisco Mejia came to the Rays last year and got adjusted to both his role as the backup to starter Mike Zu...

APRIL 9, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Comes to terms on 2022 deal Mejia and the Rays agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.455 million contract to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Now that he's on the books for 2022, Mejia should be locked in to the smaller portion of a timeshare at catcher with Mike Zunino. Last season, the role gave Mejia a modicum of value in AL-only formats and in deeper mixed leagues that started two catchers. He logged 277 plate appearances -- a high total for a nominal No. 2 catcher -- and finished with a palatable .260 average to go with six home runs, 35 RBI and 31 runs.

MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Productive in win Mejia went 2-for-3 with a walk in a win over the Yankees on Friday and now has three multi-hit efforts in his last five starts.

Impact The reserve backstop is hitting a sensational .438 (7-for-16) with two doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs over that span, boosting his season slash line to a serviceable .256/.317/.415 across 272 plate appearances. Mejia has arguably been everything the Rays could have hoped for in a backup catcher when they acquired him in the Blake Snell trade with San Diego in December, as the 25-year-old has shown flashes of the offensive prowess he displayed at multiple minor-league stops in the Padres organization.

OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE