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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Moves to bench Wednesday
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Melendez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.
The 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.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Melendez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Melendez and fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Kyle Isbel will head to the bench for the series finale while the Orioles send southpaw Cade Povich to the bump. The Royals will roll out a starting outfield of Mark Canha, Maikel Garcia and Hunter Renfroe from left to right.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Avoids arbitration with Kansas City
Rotowire
The Royals and Melendez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.65 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Melendez regressed in 2024 with just a .674 OPS over 135 regular-season games. The Royals will start off 2025 playing him regularly at least versus right-handers, but with the playoffs in mind they might not have as much patience with Melendez if he can't take some strides.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Sitting out Game 2 versus lefty
Rotowire
Melendez is absent from the lineup Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.
It's southpaw Carlos Rodon on the hill for the Yankees, so the left-handed-hitting Melendez will begin the festivities on the bench. Tommy Pham will be in left field and batting seventh for the Royals, while Hunter Renfroe will handle right and hit eighth.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Out again versus lefty
Rotowire
Melendez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game in Atlanta.
The Royals are facing a left-hander -- Max Fried -- for the fifth game in a row, and the left-handed-hitting Melendez has been on the bench for four of them. Tommy Pham is in left field and batting leadoff.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Not in lineup against lefty
Rotowire
Melendez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Nationals.
The left-handed hitting Melendez will yield to Tommy Pham in left field as southpaw Mitchell Parker toes the rubber for the Nationals. Melendez has been out of the lineup all four times the Royals have faced a lefty this month.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Sitting versus southpaw
Rotowire
Melendez is not in the lineup for Sunday's contest against the Giants.
With left-hander Blake Snell toeing the rubber for the Giants, the lefty-swinging Melendez will begin the festivities on the bench. Tommy Pham will occupy left field for the Royals.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Melendez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Melendez is sitting Sunday for the second time in three games despite the fact right-hander Jared Jones is starting for Pittsburgh. Tommy Pham will shift to left field while Adam Frazier receives a start in right.
