MJ MELENDEZ NEWS

Strong starting pitching + Melendez = a winning combination KANSAS CITY -- The Royals' stout starting pitching and MJ Melendez's clutch hitting are proving to be a winning combination. That formula wo...

APRIL 7 • MLB.COM

Double, home run in win Melendez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double and an additional run scored in Thursday's 10-1 victory over the White Sox.

Impact Melendez delivered the final blow in the Royals' eight-run seventh inning, blasting a two-run, 421-foot homer off Dominic Leone to extend Kansas City's lead to 10-1. It's the first long ball of the year for the 25-year-old Melendez though he's gotten off to a nice start, going 7-for-21 with five extra-base hits through his first six games. Melendez slashed .235/.316/.398 with 16 homers, 56 RBI and 65 runs scored across 148 games last season.

APRIL 5 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Tuesday's lineup Melendez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game at Baltimore.

Impact The Royals are facing their first left-handed starting pitcher of the season as Cole Irvin takes the mound for the Orioles, and Melendez will also head to the bench. Nelson Velazquez will man left field wile Salvador Perez serves as the designated hitter.

APRIL 2 • ROTOWIRE

Decent start to spring Melendez has gone 3-for-11 over his first five Cactus League games.

Impact Melendez will focus on the outfield in 2024, projecting as the starting left field, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Melendez has yet to put all of his tools together over his first two big-league seasons. He's hit 34 home runs and added 118 RBI over 277 contests, but he slashed just .235/.316/.398 last season. While Melendez's spot on the field is secure, any prolonged slump could open the door for Drew Waters -- who can play at all three outfield spots -- to get more of a look.

MARCH 3 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in Sunday's win Melendez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Yankees.

Impact Melendez was marginally better over the final month of the season, going 18-for-69 (.261) with four homers over his last 22 contests of the season. His playing time dipped a bit in the last couple of weeks, but that may have been a product of the Royals auditioning other players late in the campaign. Melendez closed 2023 with a .235/.316/.398 slash line, 16 long balls, 56 RBI, 65 runs scored, six stolen bases, 29 doubles and five triples over 148 games. A natural catcher, he focused on the outfield from May on to make progress with his hitting, which has been rather modest through two big-league seasons.

OCTOBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus lefty Melendez is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Yankees.

Impact The Yankees are throwing southpaw Carlos Rodon, so the left-handed hitting MJ Melendez will begin Friday's proceedings on the bench. Edward Olivares will get a start in left field while Nick Loftin handles designated hitter duties.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Wednesday Melendez is out of the lineup Wednesday at Detroit.

Impact Melendez takes a seat after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the Royals' loss to the Tigers on Tuesday. Dairon Blanco, Drew Waters and Nelson Velazquez are starting across the outfield Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Sunday's lineup Melendez isn't starting Sunday against Houston.

Impact Melendez has gone 1-for-8 with two RBI and a run scored across the first two games of the series, and he'll sit out the finale. Edward Olivares will start in left field Sunday, allowing Salvador Perez to serve as the DH while Logan Porter starts behind the dish.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs 15th homer Melendez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Guardians.

Impact He got the fireworks started by lofting a Logan Allen sweeper over the right-field wall in the first inning for a two-run homer. Melendez is having a big finish to the season, slashing .283/.431/.543 through 15 games in September with more walks (12) than strikeouts (11), and while he hasn't matched his 2022 power output with only 15 homers and 53 RBI in 141 contests this season, his elite 98th percentile average exit velocity and 92nd percentile hard-hit rate mark the 24-year-old as a potential 2024 breakout candidate.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench versus lefty Melendez is not in the lineup Sunday versus the Astros.

Impact Nelson Velazquez, Drew Waters and Dairon Blanco will start across the outfield as the Royals take on left-hander Framber Valdez. Melendez carries a weak .552 OPS in 139 plate appearances against lefties this year.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resting during Game 2 Melendez isn't in the Royals' lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox.

Impact Melendez went 0-for-3 with a walk and struck out twice during Game 1, making him hitless in 11 at-bats across his last five games. Edward Olivares will take over as Kansas City's left fielder, moving Salvador Perez into the DH spot while Logan Porter starts behind the plate.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets aboard four times Melendez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and two walks in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the White Sox.

Impact Melendez has posted multiple hits in three of his four games in September while homering twice and drawing four walks in that span. He's carried over momentum from August, when he hit .280 for the month. For the season, he's at a .239/.311/.403 slash line with 14 homers, 48 RBI, 57 runs scored, six stolen bases, 28 doubles and four triples through 130 contests. Melendez should continue to play regularly down the stretch, with most of his rest days coming when the Royals face left-handed pitchers.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus lefty Melendez isn't in the Royals' lineup Sunday against the Red Sox.

Impact With left-hander Chris Sale on the mound Sunday for Boston, the lefty-hitting Melendez will stay put in Kansas City's dugout to begin the game. Samad Taylor will draw the start in left field instead and bat eighth.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On base five times in loss Melendez went 3-for-3 with two walks, a double, a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 9-5 loss to the Red Sox.

Impact He launched a solo shot off Nick Pivetta in the ninth inning to snap an 18-game homer drought and cap a very impressive performance in a losing effort. Melendez's 97th percentile exit velocity finally began to turn into consistent production in the second half, and since the beginning of August the 24-year-old is slashing .301/.357/.553 with five of his 13 homers on the season, along with 11 RBI and 16 runs in 28 contests.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench versus southpaw Melendez is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Red Sox.

Impact Melendez will get a breather as left-hander James Paxton draws the start for Boston. Nelson Velazquez will take over in left field and bat sixth in the series opener.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Melendez will not start Saturday's game against the Mariners.

Impact Melendez sits for the first time in two weeks. He has an .811 OPS since his last trip to the bench, but that's only been enough to drag his OPS on the season up to .695. Dairon Blanco starts in left field Saturday.

AUGUST 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Turns in another strong game Melendez went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Mariners.

Impact Melendez logged his second three-hit effort in a row, and he's now batting .333 (18-for-54) in August. The 24-year-old started in left field but also shifted to first base after Dairon Blanco stayed in the game following his appearance as a pinch runner. Melendez has worked exclusively in the corner outfield for a majority of the year, but a bit more versatility could help him stick in the lineup -- especially if Salvador Perez catches more often now that Freddy Fermin's bat has cooled off a bit. Melendez is sporting a .232/.305/.388 slash line with 12 home runs, 43 RBI, 50 runs scored and six stolen bases through 114 contests.

AUGUST 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Three-hit effort Tuesday Melendez went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Tuesday's 10-8 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.

Impact Melendez has three multi-hit efforts over 14 games in August, batting. 300 with six extra-base hits and seven RBI this month. It's finally a consistent stretch for the 24-year-old, who has lifted his slash line to .227/.301/.382 on the year with the surge. He's added 13 home runs, 42 RBI, 49 runs scored and six stolen bases over 113 games while seeing most of his playing time in left field lately.

AUGUST 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Melendez will be on the bench for Saturday's game against St. Louis.

Impact Melendez hits the bench after starting six straight games, a run in which he went 9-for-24 with four homers. That recent hot streak has only been enough to drag his OPS on the season up to a disappointing .681. Samad Taylor starts in left field Saturday.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Two long balls in loss Melendez went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.

Impact He was the only Royals hitter who was able to solve Nick Pivetta on the night, taking the right-hander deep in the second and fourth innings. Melendez continues to heat up, socking four homers in the last four games and slashing .281/.340/.551 over 24 games since the All-Star break, but GMs in keeper and dynasty leagues should note that the 24-year-old hasn't seen action behind the plate since the end of April, and he remains stuck on 10 games played at catcher for the season. As a corner outfielder instead of a backstop, he'll face pressure to produce at a level much higher than his career .695 OPS if he wants to hang onto a starting spot.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in Tuesday's win Melendez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Red Sox.

Impact Melendez is starting to show a little more consistency, going 5-for-12 with two homers over his last three games. He's up to 10 long balls and a .146 ISO through 107 contests, though that's still a reduced power pace from last year (18 homers, .176 ISO in 129 games). Melendez has added 39 RBI, 45 runs scored, six stolen bases and a .220/.298/.366 slash line in 2023.

AUGUST 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knocks three hits Monday Melendez went 3-for-4 in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Red Sox.

Impact Melendez did his part to get on base, but the Royals' Nos. 5-9 hitters went a combined 2-for-19 with one walk, leaving him stranded. The 24-year-old had gone just 6-for-32 across his previous nine contests since his last multi-hit effort. Melendez is up to a .220/.297/.359 slash line through 106 games overall. He slashed a reasonable .241/.290/.402 in July, which was his steadiest month at the plate this season.

AUGUST 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats homer in loss Melendez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies.

Impact Melendez is still not hitting for average, going 8-for-36 (.222) over his last 10 games, but he has two home runs and a triple in that span. The 24-year-old continues to see regular playing time in the corner outfield positions. He's recorded a .214/.293/.355 slash line with nine homers, six stolen bases, 37 RBI and 44 runs scored over 105 contests this season while striking out at a passable 28.6 percent rate.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reaches base three times Melendez went 1-for-3 with two walks, one RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in Tuesday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Mets.

Impact Melendez's bat is starting to come around -- he's hit safely in 14 of 16 games since the All-Star break, batting .279 (17-for-61) in that span. The 24-year-old is up to six steals in eight attempts after his theft Tuesday. While he's slashing just .218/.296/.351 on the year, he's trending in the right direction and should continue to see ample playing time for the remainder of the season.

AUGUST 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers Wednesday Melendez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-3 loss against the Guardians.

Impact Melendez has recorded a hit in 10 of 12 games since the All-Star break -- he's batting .289 (13-for-45) with two homers and an .844 OPS in that span. After an inconsistent first half, the 24-year-old Melendez is slashing .217/.294/.356 with eight homers, 39 runs scored, 34 RBI and five steals across 394 plate appearances this season.

JULY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE