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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
MJ Melendez: Cut loose by KC
The Royals did not tender MJ 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Back to Triple-A
The Kansas City Royals optioned MJ 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Back up from minors
The Kansas City Royals recalled MJ 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Optioned to Triple-A
The Kansas City Royals optioned MJ 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Sitting again Saturday
MJ 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Sitting Friday
MJ Melendez is not in the Kansas City Royals' starting lineup against the Tigers on Friday.Melendez will sit for a second straight game while Drew Waters starts in left field and bats eighth against Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe. Melendez has gone 1-for-20 with a solo home run and eight strikeouts over his last five games.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Absent from lineup
MJ Melendez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Detroit.Right-hander Reese Olson is on the bump for the Tigers, but the lefty-hitting Melendez will grab a seat. Drew Waters will start in left field and bat eighth for the Kansas City Royals.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Hits first homer of 2025
MJ Melendez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Yankees.Melendez entered Tuesday's game with a .285 OPS, 36.4 strikeout rate and zero RBI across 44 plate appearances, but he managed to get the Kansas City Royals on the board with a solo homer off Max Fried in the third inning. Melendez's early-season play has put him in jeopardy of losing out on his starting role, but Tuesday's homer may be a sign of things to come for the Royals and the 26-year-old outfielder.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Hitting bench Monday
MJ Melendez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.The Kansas City Royals will move both of their struggling corner outfielders to the bench Monday, as Melendez (.285 OPS, 36.4 percent strikeout rate in 44 plate appearances) and Hunter Renfroe (.363 OPS, 27.9 percent strikeout rate in 43 plate appearances) give way to Drew Waters and Cavan Biggio in left and right field, respectively. Melendez's track record at the big-league level will likely buy him some time to work his way out of the extended slump, though his grasp on an everyday role has loosened since the beginning of the season. He's now started in just three of the Royals' last six games.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Royals' MJ Melendez: Moves to bench Wednesday
MJ Melendez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.The Kansas City Royals often shield the left-handed-hitting Melendez from opposing southpaws, but he'll take a seat Wednesday while the Twins send a right-hander (Joe Ryan) to the hill. Melendez's move to the bench comes while he's gotten off to a horrid start to the season, slashing .115/.258/.154 with a 38.7 percent strikeout rate over 31 plate appearances. If Melendez is unable to turn things around soon, he could find himself out of the lineup versus righties on a more consistent basis.
MJ Melendez
#1 LF / Kansas City Royals / EXP: 4YRS Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 lb Age: 27 College: None Bats/Throws -/-Fantasy Points by Week
- Rost
- 8%
- Start
- 4%
- OF Rank
- NR