MJ MELENDEZ NEWS

Showing off revamped swing in camp Melendez said Tuesday that he spent the offseason in Miami revamping his swing during workouts, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact Specifically, Melendez has adjusted his positioning at the plate, decreased his leg kick and demonstrated a more balanced stance in the batter's box. Melendez is hopeful that the change will simplify his movements and allow him to be more consistent at the plate, after he struck out at a 25.1 percent clip and slashed a career-worst .206/.273/.400 in 450 plate appearances a season ago. Melendez doesn't believe the adjustment will result in him sacrificing power, which was his main calling card during his minor-league career and through his first three seasons in the majors. The lefty-hitting Melendez should be poised to open the 2025 campaign as a strong-side platoon player in left field, though after catching in 10 games in 2023, he will no longer carry eligibility at catcher in any fantasy league since he didn't see any action behind the plate in 2024.

FEBRUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids arbitration with Kansas City The Royals and Melendez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.65 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact Melendez regressed in 2024 with just a .674 OPS over 135 games. The Royals will start off 2025 playing him regularly at least versus right-handers, but with the playoffs in mind they might not have as much patience with Melendez if he can't take some strides.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Game 2 versus lefty Melendez is absent from the lineup Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.

Impact It's southpaw Carlos Rodon on the hill for the Yankees, so the left-handed-hitting Melendez will begin the festivities on the bench. Tommy Pham will be in left field and batting seventh for the Royals.

OCTOBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out again versus lefty Melendez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game in Atlanta.

Impact The Royals are facing a left-hander -- Max Fried -- for the fifth game in a row and the left-handed-hitting Melendez has now been on the bench for four of them. Tommy Pham is in left field and batting leadoff.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus lefty Melendez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Nationals.

Impact It's left-hander Patrick Corbin on the bump for the Nationals, so the lefty-swinging Melendez will begin the game on the bench. Tommy Pham is playing left field and batting leadoff for the Royals.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup against lefty Melendez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Nationals.

Impact The left-handed hitting Melendez will yield to Tommy Pham in left field as southpaw Mitchell Parker toes the rubber for the Nationals. Melendez has been out of the lineup all four times the Royals have faced a lefty this month.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus southpaw Melendez is not in the lineup for Sunday's contest against the Giants.

Impact With left-hander Blake Snell toeing the rubber for the Giants, the lefty-swinging Melendez will begin the festivities on the bench. Tommy Pham will occupy left field for the Royals.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Getting night off Melendez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Impact The lefty-hitting Melendez will unsurprisingly take a seat in the series finale while the Tigers send ace southpaw Tarik Skubal to the bump. Tommy Pham will fill in for Melendez in left field.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Sunday Melendez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Melendez is sitting Sunday for the second time in three games despite the fact right-hander Jared Jones is starting for Pittsburgh. Tommy Pham will shift to left field while Adam Frazier receives a start in right.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Idle against RHP Melendez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Despite right-hander Luis Ortiz taking the mound for Pittsburgh, the lefty-hitting Melendez will retreat to the bench. It'll be Melendez's first time out of the lineup against a right-handed pitcher since Aug. 4. Tommy Pham, Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe fill the outfield from left to right.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting vs. lefty Melendez is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

Impact Melendez will begin Monday's contest on the bench with the Yankees sending left-hander Carlos Rodon to the mound. Tommy Pham, Garrett Hampson and Hunter Renfroe will start in the outfield for the series opener.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Notches steal in win Melendez went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 5-0 win over the Twins.

Impact Melendez has started to slump again, going 4-for-27 (.148) over his last nine games. He has just one extra-base hit as well as a 4:7 BB:K in that span. The outfielder hit .311 in August, but if his bat stays cold, he could face extra pressure for playing time from Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman, the two players the Royals added via waivers at the end of August. Melendez is at a .212/.272/.416 slash line with 17 home runs, four steals, 43 RBI and 42 runs scored over 404 plate appearances while mostly serving as a strong-side platoon option in the corner outfield.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Idle against southpaw Melendez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Impact With lefty Framber Valdez on the mound for Houston, Melendez will yield to Dairon Blanco in left field. Melendez is 7-for-22 (.318) with a pair of homers in his last six games.

AUGUST 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Productive in doubleheader Melendez went 4-for-9 with a three-run home run across both games of Monday's doubleheader sweep over the Guardians.

Impact Melendez's three-run blast came in the matinee, accounting for three of the Royals' four runs in that win. He wasn't directly involved in run production in the nightcap, but he logged his first three-hit game since July 12 in that contest. Melendez is batting .339 (20-for-59) over 20 games in August, lifting his slash line up to .216/.274/.433 with 17 homers, 43 RBI, 38 runs scored and three stolen bases over 109 contests. He needs two more homers to establish a career high.

AUGUST 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Logan Allen K's MJ Melendez | 08/26/2024 The Official Site of Major League Baseball

AUGUST 27, 2024 • MLB.COM

Full extension! Melendez robs hit with incredible catch Royals outfielder MJ Melendez is having himself one heck of afternoon in Game 1 of a crucial three-game series against the AL Central-leadin...

AUGUST 26, 2024 • MLB.COM

Smacks homer in loss Melendez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's 11-3 loss to the Phillies.

Impact Melendez has gone 13-for-41 (.317) with three homers and three doubles over his last 14 games. It's one of his most successful stretches of the campaign, as he has found more consistency at the plate as a platoon player. The outfielder has matched his homer total from last year (16) while adding 40 RBI, 37 runs scored, 19 doubles, two triples, three stolen bases and a .210/.269/.423 slash line through 107 contests.

AUGUST 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Idle versus lefty Melendez isn't in the Rpyals' lineup Saturday against the Phillies.

Impact The left-handed bat of Melendez will take a seat Saturday as southpaw Ranger Suarez prepares to start for Philadelphia. Dairon Blanco will fill the opening in left field and bat eighth.

AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Idle versus lefty Melendez isn't in the Royals' lineup Saturday against the Phillies.

Impact The left-handed bat of Melendez will take a seat Saturday as southpaw Ranger Suarez prepares to start for Philadelphia. Dairon Blanco will fill the opening in left field and bat eighth.

AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in Wednesday's win Melendez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Angels.

Impact Melendez has hit safely in 11 of 15 games in August, and two of those hitless efforts came as a pinch hitter. He's batting .310 with three homers, eight RBI, seven runs scored, three doubles and a stolen base this month. A move to a strong-side platoon role has helped Melendez be more effective, though he still has a .206/.267/.412 slash line for the year. He's added 15 homers, 39 RBI, 35 runs scored and three stolen bases over 352 plate appearances. While the surface numbers are poor, Melendez's .233 BABIP for the year also indicates some bad luck is in play.

AUGUST 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Idle against southpaw Melendez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels.

Impact As per usual, Melendez will head to the bench against a left-handed pitcher (Tyler Anderson). Dairon Blanco, Garrett Hampson and Hunter Renfroe fill the outfield from left to right.

AUGUST 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting vs. southpaw Melendez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Reds.

Impact With the Reds sending southpaw Andrew Abbott to the mound, the lefty-hitting Melendez will sit for the second straight game. Dairon Blanco will start in left field and bat ninth.

AUGUST 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out against lefty Melendez is not in Saturday's lineup against the Reds.

Impact He'll head to the bench with lefty Nick Lodolo on the hill for Cincinnati. The lefty-hitting Melendez may also sit Sunday with Andrew Abbott slated to start for the Reds.

AUGUST 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pops homer in loss Tuesday Melendez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 13-3 loss to the Twins.

Impact Melendez has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with two homers, one stolen base and six RBI over eight contests in August. His improved numbers may be a result of being more strictly platooned to avoid left-handed pitchers. The power-hitting outfielder is up to 14 homers, 37 RBI, 34 runs scored, three stolen bases and a .205/.267/.410 slash line through 333 plate appearances this season.

AUGUST 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Registers third steal Melendez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.

Impact Melendez posted his second multi-hit effort in a row Saturday. The outfielder swiped a bag after his first single of the game, but he wasn't able to repeat the feat later, getting caught on his second steal attempt. He's not a particularly speedy player with just three steals on six attempts this season. Melendez has added a .203/.267/.400 slash line with 13 home runs, 36 RBI and 32 runs scored over 95 contests. He's been getting platooned in left field lately, with Dairon Blanco and Garrett Hampson combining to cover the position versus southpaws.

AUGUST 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE