FRANCISCO MEJÍA NEWS

Dropped from active roster Mejia was optioned by the Padres on Saturday.

Impact The Padres simply didn't need Mejia, as they acquired both Austin Nola and Jason Castro while he was out for a month with a bruised left thumb. Nola presumably lines up as the team's starting catcher heading into next season, but Castro will be a free agent, so Mejia could earn a bench spot next year. He won't necessarily have the job locked down, though, as he hit just .077/.143/.179 in 42 plate appearances this season, dragging his career line down to .225/.282/.386 in 362 trips to the plate. Eric Hosmer returned from a fractured finger in a corresponding move.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on 10-day IL Mejia (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday.

Impact Mejia was revealed to have a left thumb contusion Monday, and his placement on the injured list will give him extra time to recover while allowing the Padres to add depth at catcher on the 28-man roster. Luis Torrens was recalled in a corresponding move, but Austin Hedges should handle the majority of the duties behind the plate while Mejia is sidelined.

AUGUST 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with left thumb injury Mejia is dealing with a left thumb contusion Monday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Impact Mejia wasn't in the lineup for Sunday's contest, but he's apparently dealing with an injury. It's unclear when or how he suffered the injury, but the Padres currently only have one other catcher (Austin Hedges) on the active roster. Whether the injury will require a stay on the injured list remains to be seen, but allowing Mejia time to recover would let the Padres add catching depth while he's on the mend. The 24-year-old is off to a slow start this season, hitting just .079 with two extra-base hits, two RBI and nine strikeouts over 16 games.

AUGUST 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out series finale Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Mejia was behind the plate for the first two games of the series, going hitless across seven at-bats. Austin Hedges will check in for him at catcher, working in a battery with starting pitcher Garrett Richards.

AUGUST 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Mejia is not starting Thursday against the Dodgers.

Impact Mejia will head to the bench as Austin Hedges picks up the start at catcher in Thursday's series finale. Across 14 games this season, Mejia is slashing just .097/.176/.226 with one home run.

AUGUST 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sits again Tuesday Mejia remains on the bench Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Impact Mejia and Austin Hedges, who gets the call behind the plate Tuesday, have now each been in the lineup nine times in the season's first 18 games. Mejia has just a .429 OPS this season, though that's still better than Hedges' .375 mark.

AUGUST 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Continues to split time Mejia will sit Monday against the Dodgers.

Impact Mejia has started nine times behind the plate this season compared to eight for Austin Hedges, who starts Sunday. The pair have alternated starts for eight straight games, so Mejia should have a good chance to return to action Tuesday.

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Belts first homer Mejia went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's victory over Arizona.

Impact Mejia was one of five Padres to go deep in the victory, staking the team to a nine-run lead with a two-run shot in the third inning. The long ball was a much-needed sign of life from the backstop position for San Diego -- Mejia is slashing .103/.188/.241 through 29 plate appearances this season while Austin Hedges is at .091/.091/.182.

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Mejia is not in the lineup Saturday against Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Mejia and Austin Hedges have come as close to an even split as possible behind the plate through the first 15 games of the year. Mejia has been in the lineup eight times, while Hedges, who starts Saturday, has gotten the nod on seven occasions.

AUGUST 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Takes breather Wednesday Mejia isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Impact Mejia has seen the majority of the time behind the plate over the first several weeks of the season, but he'll get his second game off in the past three contests. Austin Hedges will be the starting catcher, batting eighth.

AUGUST 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Monday Mejia is not in the lineup Monday against the Dodgers.

Impact Mejia had started the past two games at catcher, going 1-for-6 with a double and two strikeouts over that span. However, Austin Hedges will start behind the plate Monday, batting eighth.

AUGUST 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Day off Wednesday Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game at San Francisco.

Impact Mejia started the past two games but remains hitless through four appearances. Austin Hedges receives the start behind the plate for the Friars on Wednesday.

JULY 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sits Monday Hedges is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Hedges had started both of the previous two days, so he'll just be getting a breather in the series finale while Francisco Mejia gets a turn behind the dish. The 27-year-old is still looking for his first hit of the season after going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the Padres' three games to date.

JULY 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Saturday Mejia isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Mejia got the nod at catcher for the Padres' Opening Day contest, but he'll sit out after going 0-for-2 on Friday. Austin Hedges will start behind the plate Saturday, batting eighth. The two are expected to split time in some way this season, although their exact usage remains to be seen.

JULY 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gets Opening Day nod Mejia started at catcher in Friday's win over Arizona, batting eighth in the lineup and going 0-for-2.

Impact The Padres have been mostly vague about how they will divide playing time behind the plate between Mejia and Austin Hedges this season, so the decision to give Mejia the Opening Day start shouldn't be over-analyzed. Still, Hedges caught most of Chris Paddack's starts last year, thus Mejia's presence in the lineup Friday comes as a bit of a surprise. For what it's worth, Hedges came into the game to play defense after Mejia was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, and the team has yet to announce which of the backstops will be in the lineup for Saturday's contest.

JULY 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Velocity up Weathers sat at 95-97 mph with his fastball over two innings in an intrasquad game over the weekend, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports.

Impact Weathers sat in the low-90s and even dipped into the upper-80s at times late last season, so this is big news. The 20-year-old southpaw struck out Fernando Tatis and Francisco Mejia in the outing and manager Jayce Tingler came away very impressed. "He looked like he belonged," Tingler said. "He was on the attack. The stuff was really good and he didn't look intimidated (or) fazed by being under the lights facing a big-league lineup. He was very impressive." Weathers likely won't debut in the majors during this shortened season, but he already had good offspeed stuff and good command, so this newfound fastball velocity ups his dynasty-league stock.

JULY 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía homers, Padres beat Bauer and Reds 3-2

Padres held on for a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

AUGUST 20, 2019

Mejia homers as Padres beat Cubs 5-1 to avoid sweep

Francisco Mejía homered, Fernando Tatis Jr. drove in three runs and the San Diego Padres avoided the sweep, beating the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on...

JULY 21, 2019

While Francisco Mejia's bat stays hot, his defense continues to improve

Francisco Mejia has reached base in every Spring Training game he's played in

MARCH 8, 2019

Padres prospect Mejia continues to hit, work on his defense

Padres prospect Francisco Mejia continues to hit while working on defense

MARCH 8, 2019

Mejia’s slam lifts Padres to 7-3 win over Rangers

Mejia's slam lifts Padres to 7-3 win over Rangers

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

Mejia's slam lifts Padres to 7-3 win over Rangers

Rangers starter Mike Minor allowed two runs and four hits, struck out seven and walked one. He also doubled.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018