ADVERTISEMENT

Melendez

Melendez was named the winner of the 2022 Dick Howser Trophy. Basically like winning the Heisman.
 
Last edited:
From baseball analyst Dustin McComas:

Been hearing more second-round projections for Melendez lately and even someone who suggested he might get into the very end of the competitive balance round A. I'd be surprised if he was still on the board in the third round; second seems most likely.

By returning he's probably going to get very close to or exceed seven figures.

He puts in the work, he improved, he performed. And he hits the ball so damn hard it pops on all the computer models.

Doesn't always work that way for guys who return.


What’s happening this time of the year is some boards are changing as more intel rolls in about how signable many of the top high school players are; fewer available top high school players and a very blah year of college pitching at the top means more college hitters pushed up. Plus, Melendez was so good late in the season in conference play teams were being told to go get another look and his batted-ball/performance data really stands out in the computer models.

The defensive outlook and age hold him back. If he was a year younger and a guy with a chance to stick at third, he'd be a slam dunk first rounder.

He is not playing third in the bigs. 1B or DH.
 
Last edited:
The $1.4 million is all his no matter what. That’s a signing bonus. Minor leaguers make absolute peanuts until they make the bigs, so their bonus is the only time to get paid until they become big leaguers.

College upperclassmen often take “below slot”, meaning lower singing bonuses than their round/pick would normally suggest.
 
He’ll start with the ACL diamondbacks. Hopefully he can make it to the Sod Poodles sooner rather than later. That’s the toughest jump in the minors (from rookie/A-ball to double A). Plus that will put him back in Texas. If he makes it to Reno next year that would be exceptional and bode very well for his future.
 
He’ll start with the ACL diamondbacks. Hopefully he can make it to the Sod Poodles sooner rather than later. That’s the toughest jump in the minors (from rookie/A-ball to double A). Plus that will put him back in Texas. If he makes it to Reno next year that would be exceptional and bode very well for his future.

He's going to start his career in Visalia.
 
  • Like
Reactions: unihorn
He needs to cut down on his strikeouts before there's any talk of making the majors. He struck out in 38% of his at bats in High A. That's likely to increase in AA. He'll likely need to get it closer to 20-25% before he has a shot at making the bigs.

The power is undeniable, but he's got to fix his swing and miss.
 
Last edited:
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT