Melendez’s bat, athleticism compelled his approach into KC Royals’ plans

Harm and circumstances left the door ajar early this season. So Kansas Metropolis Royals rookie catcher MJ Melendez wedged his foot in within the opening, then used his bat like a crowbar and compelled his approach into the lineup and the membership’s quick plans.

The Royals entrance workplace was acutely aware of the potential eventuality of Melendez incomes his option to the large leagues whereas the face of franchise Salvador Perez nonetheless reigned because the membership’s on a regular basis catcher.

Perez’s credentials embrace seven All-Star appearances, a World Sequence MVP, a number of Gold Gloves and Silver Slugger awards.

However the concept of carving out enjoying for the highly-regarded Melendez alongside Perez remained theoretical till Melendez confirmed he could possibly be a harmful hitter within the majors and ran down fly balls like his hair was on hearth.

Finally, his efficiency compelled the Royals to begin considering creatively and with immediacy.

Now, Melendez seemingly pencils into subsequent 12 months’s beginning lineup together with Perez.

“It wasn’t practical till MJ confirmed he might play the outfield at a excessive degree,” Royals supervisor Mike Matheny stated.

Melendez’s promotion to the majors on Might 2 adopted an damage to backup catcher Cam Gallagher. Then he bought the lion’s share of the enjoying time when Perez went on the IL resulting from thumb surgical procedure.

Matheny was fairly frank in acknowledging that he wasn’t certain how the day-to-day maneuvering may work with two catchers within the lineup frequently.

“I had no concept, however I hadn’t seen (Melendez) within the outfield,” Matheny stated. “So, I didn’t know. I hoped the bat would play to the place you’d need it within the lineup, and that’s an absolute. So I feel we’ve seen so much from one thing that we didn’t suppose we had been going to see. His bat simply labored him into the lineup, after which his athleticism made the outfield actual.”

Coming into Monday, Melendez had began 63 video games at catcher, 38 video games within the outfield and 21 video games as designated hitter within the majors.

“It’s been a reasonably distinctive and loopy 12 months,” Melendez stated throughout the crew’s final homestand. “Clearly, it’s a 12 months that’s been stuffed with changes. It’s one thing that you may’t actually plan for within the offseason.

“It’s been actually enjoyable and one thing the place I can go into this offseason and know the issues I must work on. Then come again subsequent 12 months and have a fair higher 12 months.”

Melendez made some incredibly-athletic performs within the outfield, together with diving catches and a pair of outfield assists.

However the outfield remains to be a brand new place for him, which has proven at instances in both misjudging a ball, his path to the ball, or airing out a throw that permits a runner to advance a base.

Regardless of simply being launched to the outfield this spring within the minors, Melendez pointed to his protection within the outfield as an space he desires to wash up this offseason.

“Clearly, you’re going to make errors,” Melendez stated. “It’s a part of the sport. Simply making an attempt to go on the market and be myself, not be timid. Go attempt to make performs, as a result of that’s what I do, and never be afraid to make any errors.”

Greater than a slugger, and extra to come back

Final season within the minors, Melendez slashed .288/.386/.625 and mashed 41 dwelling runs in 123 video games between Double-A and Triple-A. He led all hitters within the minors in homers.

He was the primary participant since 2016 to hit 40 homers or extra in a single minor-league season, the 14th participant to take action since 1990. He additionally turned the primary main catcher with 40 homers or extra within the minors since Todd Greene hit 40 in 1995.

Added to the Royals’ 40-man roster this offseason, Melendez has all the time insisted that he by no means seen himself as merely a “energy hitter.”

Since July 12, has served because the Royals’ main leadoff hitter. Together with Monday, he made 62 of his 122 begins whereas batting out of the leadoff spot within the batting order, sometimes in entrance of his fellow rookie standout Bobby Witt Jr.

“It’s unbelievable, simply the at-bats he places in day in and time out,” Witt stated. “It’s actually enjoyable simply to be that shut, with the ability to watch him do his factor up there. Simply the ball of his bat, it’s unbelievable.

“The positions he places his physique in and simply to have the ability to put the barrel on the ball, (he can) do some unbelievable issues. It’s enjoyable simply to see him compete up there.”

By means of his first 126 video games within the large leagues, Melendez launched 18 dwelling runs and 66 walks. He entered Monday night time with a slash line of .224/.321/.405.

He’s one in every of eight first-year gamers in American League historical past with at the least 18 homers and 66 walks in a season, the primary since Eric Hinske in 2002.

Melendez additionally led all MLB rookies in walks and ranked among the many rookie leaders in RBIs (fifth, 62), dwelling runs (tied for fifth), extra-base hits (sixth, 42) and whole bases (seventh, 181).

“I want I might have had a little bit bit higher hitting season, being my first season,” Melendez stated. “However it what it’s. It’s a part of the sport. It’s baseball. Subsequent 12 months, simply come again, have a greater season.”

Particularly, Melendez stated he desires to be “extra constant” and hit for the next common.

A part of the adjustment this season has been studying the way to strategy at-bats, getting a really feel for what big-league pitchers will do in sure counts or sure conditions.

The place a pitcher within the minors may shrink back from off-speed when behind within the rely, there’s no concern in big-league pitchers and so they’ve bought elite command.

The standard of his at-bats and his willingness to take walks performed a significant factor in him shifting into the leadoff spot.

Whereas not oblivious to that, Melendez additionally isn’t happy with the outcomes he’s had this season.

“I’ve put collectively some good at-bats,” Melendez stated. “Clearly, I’m not taking something away from that. I simply maintain myself to the next customary. As a lot as I’d get reward for having these good at-bats, I need to proceed to do this and even be higher subsequent 12 months. Actually do all I can to assist us win and put us in good conditions each sport.”

Lynn Worthy covers the Kansas Metropolis Royals and Main League Baseball for The Star. A local of the Northeast, he’s coated highschool, collegiate {and professional} sports activities for The Lowell Solar, Binghamton Press & Solar-Bulletin, Allentown Morning Name and The Salt Lake Tribune. He’s received awards for sports activities options and sports activities columns.