This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Melendez went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Nationals.
Melendez launched his second homer of the season Thursday, and he's fared well at the dish overall since being called up from Triple-A Syracuse. Over his first 29 at-bats for the Mets, the 27-year-old outfielder is hitting .345 with five extra-base hits, six RBI and three walks. New York is short on available outfield options, as Juan Soto (forearm) is limited and Luis Robert (back) is on the injured list, so Melendez should play most days versus righties in the meantime.
Melendez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Left-hander Connor Prielipp is on the bump for Minnesota, so the left-handed-hitting Melendez will retreat to the bench after he had started each of the previous five games. The Mets will ease Juan Soto (calf) back in following a stint on the injured list by deploying him at designated hitter, but he'll likely resume playing left field on a full-time basis in short order to keep the DH spot open for Melendez. The 27-year-old has posted a 1.014 OPS through his first five games with New York since getting recalled from Triple-A Syracuse last week, and he should continue to play regularly versus right-handed pitching so long as he's wielding a hot bat.
Melendez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Cubs.
The former Royal took Javier Assad deep in the fifth inning, but it proved to be the Mets' only run in an extra-inning loss. Melendez has been a rare bright spot in the New York lineup since being called up last week, going 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles and one homer, but that success could evaporate quickly -- he struck out three times Sunday, and has fanned eight times total in his first 16 plate appearances this season. Melendez will need to stay productive to keep getting consistent playing time once Juan Soto (calf) has rejoined the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Jorge Polanco: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Mets placed Polanco on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right wrist contusion, retroactive to Wednesday.
Polanco has been dealing with a nagging Achilles injury all season, but he got imaging done on his right wrist Friday, and although he seems to be dealing with just a bruise, the Mets will put him on the IL anyway. MJ Melendez is a candidate to see more time at DH while Polanco is sidelined, and Hayden Senger will come up from Triple-A to round out the active roster.
... See More... See Less
Mets' MJ Melendez: Gaining traction in lineup
Rotowire
Melendez will start at designated hitter and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Melendez will pick up his fourth straight start after going 4-for-10 with two doubles, two walks, one run and one RBI since receiving a call-up from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. With Jorge Polanco (wrist) landing on the injured list, Melendez should have a fairly clear path to regular playing time against right-handed pitching, at least until Juan Soto (calf) is back.
... See More... See Less
Mets' MJ Melendez: Two doubles in Mets debut
Rotowire
Melendez went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers.
Getting the start at DH and batting eighth in his season debut, Melendez banged out two-baggers against Shohei Ohtani in the third and fifth innings, with the second bringing home the Mets' first run of the night. Melendez could see consistent at-bats against right-handed pitching in the short term while Juan Soto (calf) and others are on the shelf, especially if he keeps supplying a slumbering offense with a spark, but the former Royal's career .216/.297/.389 slash line in the majors doesn't offer much optimism that he'll carve out a long-term spot on the roster.
... See More... See Less
Mets' MJ Melendez: Recalled, serving as DH
Rotowire
The Mets recalled Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse, and he will serve as the team's designated hitter and bat eighth against the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Melendez opened the season in Triple-A after failing to make the Mets' Opening Day roster, where he is slashing .216/.286/.431 with one steal (on three attempts), two home runs and three RBI in 56 plate appearances. He'll give the Mets depth in the outfield after Jared Young (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
... See More... See Less
Mets' MJ Melendez: Misses Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Mets optioned Melendez to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old joined the Mets on a one-year, $1.5 million contract in February after being non-tendered by the Royals at the start of the offseason. Melendez went 4-for-11 with two homers in his four spring games with the Mets but struggled for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, going 0-for-4 with two walks and two strikeouts. He could be up with the Mets at some point this season.
... See More... See Less
Mets' MJ Melendez: Inks deal with NYM
Rotowire
Melendez agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Mets on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The 27-year-old was non-tendered by the Royals in November, but he was eventually able to land an MLB contract for 2026. The Mets have avoided spending big on a left fielder this winter with top prospect Carson Benge on the cusp of his major-league debut, but Melendez represents a low-cost option that provides short-term depth. Melendez clubbed 51 homers from 2022 to 2024 but has a career .215 average in the majors and played in just 23 big-league games last season.
... See More... See Less
MJ Melendez: Cut loose by KC
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Royals' MJ Melendez: Back to Triple-A
Rotowire
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.
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.
... See More... See Less
Royals' MJ Melendez: Sitting again Saturday
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Royals' MJ Melendez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Royals' MJ Melendez: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Melendez is not in the 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.
... See More... See Less
Royals' MJ Melendez: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
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 Royals.
... See More... See Less
Royals' MJ Melendez: Hits first homer of 2025
Rotowire
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 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.
0:35
0:45
1:52
0:46
0:59
1:20
1:16
11:33
7:53
0:43
0:54
1:00
1:37
1:25
1:31
0:50
1:57
9:42
1:26
1:08
