Player News
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The Royals did not tender Melendez a contract for 2026 on Friday, making him a free agent. Melendez had the potential to be a key lineup piece for Kansas City after clubbing 18 homers as a rookie in 2022 and posting a .714 OPS the following season, but he regressed the past two years. The 26-year-old went 5-for-65 with a 35.4 percent strikeout rate in just 23 big-league games during 2025.
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The Royals optioned Melendez to Triple-A Omaha on Friday. With the Royals' acquisitions of Randal Grichuk and Mike Yastrzemski this past week, Melendez will head back to the minors. Melendez has slashed an ugly .083/.154/.167 with one home run, one RBI, five runs scored and a 3:23 BB:K across 65 plate appearances at the major-league level this season.
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The Royals recalled Melendez from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. He's taking the 26-man active roster spot vacated by Nick Loftin, who was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list. Melendez was sent down to Omaha back in April after a 4-for-47 start to the season. He was predictably better at Omaha, although Melendez wasn't exactly begging for a promotion with a .252/.300/.472 batting line over 317 plate appearances in the International League. The 26-year-old will get some looks in the outfield against right-handed pitching, but he might be used more in a reserve role.
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The Royals optioned Melendez to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. Melendez has logged just one base hit across his last seven games and only three since the beginning of April. He'll now head to the minors in order to sort things out at the plate, making room on the active roster for Mark Canha (hip) to return from the IL.
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Melendez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Detroit. Melendez has now been absent from the starting nine in each of Kansas City's last three games, which indicates a change in the depth chart following a 4-for-47 start from the 26-year-old. Drew Waters will start in left field and bat seventh.
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Stats
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | KO | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | KC | 23 | 60 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 0 | .083 |
| 2024 | KC | 135 | 412 | 44 | 85 | 17 | 44 | 35 | 113 | 4 | .206 |
Last 7 Games
| DATE | Opp | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | KO | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/28 | @  |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/27 | @ |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/26 | @ |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/25 | @  |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/24 | @ |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/23 | @ |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/21 | vs  |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Upcoming Games
| date | Opp | time | Scheduled Starter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/26 | @  |
12:00 AM | Not Announced Yet |
| 3/28 | @ |
12:00 AM | Not Announced Yet |
| 3/29 | @ |
12:00 AM | Not Announced Yet |
| 3/30 | vs  |
4:10 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 4/01 | vs |
7:40 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 4/02 | vs |
7:40 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 4/03 | vs  |
7:40 PM | Not Announced Yet |