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Top MJ Melendez News
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Showing off revamped swing in camp
Melendez said Tuesday that he spent the offseason in Miami revamping his swing during workouts, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Specifically, Melendez has adjusted his positioning at the plate, decreased his leg kick and demonstrated a more balanced stance in the batter's box. Melendez is hopeful that the change will simplify his movements and allow him to be more consistent at the plate, after he struck out at a 25.1 percent clip and slashed a career-worst .206/.273/.400 in 450 plate appearances a season ago. Melendez doesn't believe the adjustment will result in him sacrificing power, which was his main calling card during his minor-league career and through his first three seasons in the majors. The lefty-hitting Melendez should be poised to open the 2025 campaign as a strong-side platoon player in left field, though after catching in 10 games in 2023, he will no longer carry eligibility at catcher in any fantasy league since he didn't see any action behind the plate in 2024.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Avoids arbitration with Kansas City
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
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
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: Sitting versus lefty
Melendez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Nationals.
It's left-hander Patrick Corbin on the bump for the Nationals, so the lefty-swinging Melendez will begin the game on the bench. Tommy Pham is playing left field and batting leadoff for the Royals.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Not in lineup against lefty
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
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: Getting night off
Melendez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
The lefty-hitting Melendez will unsurprisingly take a seat in the series finale while the Tigers send ace southpaw Tarik Skubal to the bump. Tommy Pham will fill in for Melendez in left field.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Not starting Sunday
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.
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Royals' MJ Melendez: Idle against RHP
Melendez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.
Even with right-hander Luis Ortiz taking the mound for Pittsburgh, the lefty-hitting Melendez will retreat to the bench. It'll be Melendez's first time out of the lineup against a right-handed starter since Aug. 4. Tommy Pham, Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe fill the outfield from left to right.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-1, 190 lbs |
| Birthplace: Daytona Beach, FL |
| Age: 26 |
| Experience: 3 |
| Bats/Throws: L, R |