Francisco Mejía
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Apr 5 2024Mejia signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was cut loose by the Rays at the end of camp but will now receive a look with the Brewers. The 28-year-old will provide catching depth at Triple-A Nashville as prospect Jeferson Quero deals with a shoulder injury.
Mar 22 2024The Rays informed Mejia that he did not make the Opening Day roster Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was signed in late February and was competing for the backup catcher job. He made plenty of contact across 16 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action, though he didn't make enough of an impression to secure a roster spot.
Feb 29 2024Mejia signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was abruptly released by the Angels over the weekend but has quickly found new work in a familiar spot. Topkin notes that Alex Jackson is still expected to be Rene Pinto's backup, but Mejia will provide depth at catcher and is already familiar with much of the pitching staff.
Feb 25 2024The Angels released Mejia on Sunday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia joined the Angels on a minor-league contract in December after slashing .227/.258/.400 with five home runs and 19 RBI over 160 plate appearances with the Rays last season. He was set to compete with Matt Thaiss for the backup catcher spot, but now Mejia will be on the lookout for a new team for the 2024 season.
Dec 22 2023Mejia signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia slashed .227/.258/.400 across 160 plate appearances with the Rays last season. His deal includes an invite to major-league camp, where he will presumably compete with Matt Thaiss for the backup catcher spot behind Logan O'Hoppe.
Aug 28 2023Mejia cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Meija has accepted the outright assignment, per Topkin, which isn't a surprise since declining it would mean forfeiting what's remaining on his $2.16 million salary for this season. The catcher is under team control for 2024 but would seem to be a likely non-tender candidate.
Aug 22 2023Mejia (knee) was activated from the 10-day injured list and designated for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia completed his rehab assignment after recovering from a left knee sprain and seemingly was poised to rejoin the Rays' active roster. However, the team has decided they prefer what Rene Pinto provides as the No. 2 catcher behind Christian Bethancourt. Mejia could clear waivers based on his $2.16 million salary this season, but the former top prospect is under team control for another year so it's possible there will be interest from other organizations.
Aug 14 2023Mejia (knee) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia went hitless in four plate appearances for Durham on Sunday in his first game action since he went down in late July with a left MCL sprain. He could be ready for activation within the next week or so to serve as Tampa Bay's second catcher behind Christian Bethancourt.
Aug 9 2023Mejia (knee) could resume on-field activities Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: If all goes well this weekend, Mejia could play in minor-league rehab games early next week. Rays manager Kevin Cash suggested the catcher could then rejoin the major-league roster by the tail end of the club's upcoming road trip, or when the team returns home Aug. 22. Mejia, who has a .658 OPS and five home runs this season, figures to operate as the clear No. 2 behind Christian Bethancourt upon his return.
Jul 21 2023Mejia (knee) will likely be out 3-to-6 weeks with the left MCL sprain that sent him to the injured list Friday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia told reporters Friday afternoon that he was optimistic about only needing a minimal 10-day IL stint, but it's a fairly significant injury that will require a multi-week shutdown period and then probably a multi-week buildup back into baseball activities. Rene Pinto has been summoned to the Rays to share time behind the plate with Christian Bethancourt.
Jul 20 2023Mejia will undergo an MRI on his left knee following Thursday's game against the Orioles, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia exited in the seventh inning of Thursday's game. Manager Kevin Cash said that for now the team is considering Mejia's injury a sprain, but there is some concern the issue is more severe. Rene Pinto is currently on a rehab assignment while recovering from an undisclosed injury, though he'd almost certainly be recalled when available to back up Christian Bethancourt if Mejia is forced to the injured list.
Jul 16 2023Mejia went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia drew the start in the first game of the doubleheader and blasted his fourth homer of the season -- three of which have come in his last 16 games. However, he's hit only .200 in that span and has started only five of the Rays' last 15 games while losing out on playing time to Christian Bethancourt.
Jun 22 2023Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday in a loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia's seventh-inning solo blast tied the game 3-3, though KC ultimately pulled out the win. The backstop has hit safely in all but one of his nine games in June, batting .355 (11-for-31) with two homers and six RBI over that span. However, he continues to split time behind the plate with the struggling Christian Bethancourt, who is slashing .171/.186/.171 this month but has played in two more contests than Mejia thus far.
Jun 10 2023Mejia went 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run in Saturday's loss to Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia got the start behind the plate and accounted for most of the Rays' run output with his three-run blast off Nathan Eovaldi in the fourth inning. The backstop has hit safely if each of his past five games and is batting .444 (8-for-18) over that span, but he continues to split time at catcher with Christian Bethancourt. The latter has outhomered Mejia 7-2 on the campaign and has superior numbers overall, so Mejia's big performance Saturday isn't likely to result in a changing of the guard.
Jun 6 2023Mejia went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is now 5-for-11 in his last three games following a 2-for-20 slump in his previous seven contests. The 27-year-old backstop is slashing .226/.267/.333 with one homer, seven RBI, and 16 runs scored through 101 plate appearances while splitting catching duties with Christian Bethancourt in Tampa Bay.
Apr 29 2023Mejia went 1-for-4 with one homer and two runs scored in Saturday's 12-3 victory over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia missed out on the fun in the Rays' 10-run seventh inning, but he hit a solo shot in the eighth inning. It was Mejia's first hit since April 18, when he had four knocks. The catcher is slashing .200/.260/.311 while sharing duties behind the plate with Christian Bethancourt.
Jan 13 2023Mejia signed a one-year, $2.155 million contract with the Rays on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia took a step back at the plate in 2022 with just a .645 OPS and at this point it's difficult to see him turning into an everyday catcher. He will share time behind the dish with Christian Bethancourt in 2023.
Oct 7 2022Mejia (personal) was activated from the paternity list Friday and is on the Rays' roster for the AL Wild Card Series against the Guardians, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.comreports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was placed on the paternity list Tuesday and will rejoin the team after spending a few days with his family. Mejia is on the bench for Game 1 in Cleveland on Friday with Christian Bethancourt starting behind the plate and batting seventh.
Oct 4 2022Mejia was placed on the paternity list Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This ends Mejia's regular season. The switch-hitting backstop slashed .242/.264/.381 with six home runs, 32 runs and 31 RBI in 93 games. Rene Pinto was recalled to take Mejia's place on the roster.
Oct 3 2022Mejia will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and No. 8 batter in Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will pick up his fourth start in five games, this time in a non-defensive role after he worked behind the plate Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Though he's seen an uptick in work of late, Mejia owns a pedestrian .596 OPS since the start of September and still looks to be the Rays' No. 2 option at catcher behind Christian Bethancourt.
Sep 28 2022Mejia isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has lost out on playing time recently and will be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last five games. Christian Bethancourt is starting behind the plate and batting seventh.
Sep 27 2022Mejia is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has started five of the last 12 games. Christian Bethancourt, who has started six of the last 12 games, will start behind the dish and bat seventh.
Sep 25 2022Mejia is not in Sunday's lineup against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is in a 4-for-27 (.148 AVG) slump over his last nine games. Christian Bethancourt will start behind the dish, hitting seventh.
Sep 23 2022Mejia isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will hand off catching duties to Christian Bethancourt, who will bat seventh as the two backstops continue to trade off between starts.
Sep 21 2022Mejia isn't starting Wednesday against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts Tuesday and will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Rene Pinto is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Sep 19 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will take a seat for the second game in a row while Christian Bethancourt continues to push him for playing time at catcher. Since Mejia returned from a stint on the injured list Aug. 5, he's started 22 games behind the plate compared to Bethancourt's 19.
Sep 18 2022Mejia is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rangers, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is hitting .321 with four doubles in nine games this month. Christian Bethancourt is starting at catcher and hitting sixth.
Sep 17 2022Mejia went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI on Friday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia accounted for the majority of the Rays' offense by delivering an RBI single in the second inning, followed by a run-scoring double four frames later. The performance ended a three-game hitless stretch, spanning 10 at-bats. For the season, Mejia has maintained a .260/.280/.408 line across 271 plate appearances.
Sep 14 2022Mejia isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has alternated starts behind the dish recently and will retreat to the bench after he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in Tuesday's nightcap. Christian Bethancourt is starting at catcher and batting seventh.
Sep 9 2022Mejia will sit Friday against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has gone 6-for-11 over his last four games but nonetheless finds himself sitting for the third time in five contests. Christian Bethancourt will start behind the plate.
Sep 5 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will sit for the third time in four games while Christian Bethancourt gets another turn behind the dish. The Rays haven't yet indicated that Bethancourt is their preferred option behind the plate, but expect a roughly even timeshare between the two backstops to remain in place for the time being. Mejia hasn't bolstered his case for earning a larger share of the playing time by slashing .254/.302/.339 in 18 games since he returned from the injured list Aug. 5.
Sep 4 2022Mejia is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia went 2-for-3 with a run scored during Saturday's contest and will take a seat for the series finale. Christian Bethancourt will work behind the plate and bat seventh Sunday.
Sep 2 2022Mejia will be on the bench Friday against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia sits after starting two straight games. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the plate.
Aug 28 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will take a seat for the second game in a row while Christian Bethancourt gets another turn behind the plate. The two backstops may be moving into a timeshare at the position after Mejia went 0-for-12 across his last three starts.
Aug 27 2022Mejia isn't starting Saturday against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday against Boston and will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Christian Bethancourt is starting behind the plate and batting sixth.
Aug 25 2022Mejia will sit Thursday versus the Angels, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will take a seat after he went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout Wednesday's win. The red-hot Christian Bethancourt will replace him behind the plate and bat sixth in the series finale.
Aug 23 2022Mejia is not in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will get a breather after he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Monday's series opener. Christian Bethancourt will take over at catcher and bat eighth against Los Angeles.
Aug 21 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Christian Bethancourt will step in behind the dish while Mejia is likely getting some routine maintenance for the afternoon game. Mejia caught both of the last two games, going 2-for-8 with a run scored.
Aug 18 2022Mejia isn't starting Thursday against the Royals, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak in which he's slashed .391/.440/.565 with four doubles, four RBI and three runs. However, he'll get a breather while Christian Bethancourt starts behind the plate and bats seventh.
Aug 16 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will get a breather after he went 5-for-11 with a double and an RBI while starting behind the plate in each of the past three games. Christian Bethancourt will catch for starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs on Tuesday.
Aug 12 2022Mejia is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will get a day off after he went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers. Christian Bethancourt will take over at catcher and bat seventh in the series opener.
Aug 9 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will head to the bench for the series opener in Milwaukee while Christian Bethancourt gets a turn behind the plate. Since he returned from the 10-day injured list Friday, Mejia has gone 1-for-6 with a double, three walks and a run across two starts at catcher, while Bethancourt has caught in the Rays' other two contests.
Aug 6 2022Mejia will sit Saturday against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia returned from a shoulder injury Friday and went 0-for-3 with a pair of walks. He won't be asked to start on consecutive days right away, so Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the plate.
Aug 5 2022Mejia (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia made one rehab appearance with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate this week and has been cleared to rejoin the big-league roster after spending the 10-day minimum on the shelf. The 26-year-old should step in as Tampa Bay's primary backstop since Mike Zunino (shoulder) is out for the year.
Aug 2 2022Mejia (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate and will serve as a designated hitter in Tuesday's game, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The fact that the Rays cleared Mejia for a rehab assignment one week after he deactivated suggests that the 26-year-old is tracking toward a return following a near-minimum-length stay on the 10-day injured list. Before he's reinstated, Mejia may need to pick up a start behind the plate in the minors to prove that the right shoulder impingement doesn't affect him when he throws to the bases.
Jul 26 2022Mejia was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder impingement, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's yet another injury for the Rays, who ruled out Mike Zunino (shoulder) and Kevin Kiermaier (hip) for the season Monday. Mejia had a .992 OPS through 14 games in July and was poised to continue seeing plenty of playing time with Zunino sidelined, but the switch-hitting catcher will now be out for at least the next 10 days. Rene Pinto was called up in a corresponding move to provide depth at catcher behind Christian Bethancourt.
Jul 24 2022Mejia will sit Sunday against the Royals, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will get a day off after he went 4-for-8 with a double, two RBI and three runs over the first two games of the series. Christian Bethancourt will start behind the plate and bat fifth in the series finale.
Jul 23 2022Mejia went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in a 7-3 win over the Royals on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia had a productive night at the plate, helping lift his team over the Royals with an RBI single during a four-run fourth. He later cashed in Taylor Walls for an insurance run with a double in the eighth. The 26-year-old catcher has seen increased competition for playing time since Christian Bethancourt was traded to the Rays, so it will be important for him to continue producing at the dish. Mejia is slashing an excellent .324/.342/.649 in July.
Jul 18 2022Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia took Keegan Akin yard in the sixth inning to record his sixth homer of the season. He closed pre-All-Star break action in strong form, hitting .381 with four RBI and four runs scored across his last six starts. Even since the Rays acquired Christian Bethancourt, Mejia has alternated starts behind the dish.
Jul 16 2022Mejia isn't starting Saturday against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia went 3-for-9 with a double, two runs, two RBI and three strikeouts over his last four games but will take a seat for the third time in the last five matchups. Christian Bethancourt is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.
Jul 14 2022Mejia will sit Thursday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will take a seat Thursday after he went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's victory. Christian Bethancourt will start at catcher and bat fifth in the series finale.
Jul 12 2022Mejia will sit Tuesday against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will get a day off Tuesday after he went 2-for-4 with a double in Monday's victory. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the plate and bat third against the Red Sox.
Jul 10 2022Mejia is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia and Rene Pinto have alternated starts over the past eight games, and that trend will continue Sunday after Mejia went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run during Saturday's contest. Pinto will bat eighth in the series finale.
Jul 8 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Friday's game at Cincinnati, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays have alternated starters behind the plate over the past six games, and that trend will continue Friday after Mejia started Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts. Rene Pinto will catch and bat eighth for Tampa Bay.
Jul 5 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Mejia will be sitting for the fourth time in six games, it's unclear if Rene Pinto has truly supplanted him on the depth chart at catcher. Just three days ago, Mejia supplied two home runs in a win over the Blue Jays, so the Rays likely won't completely pull the plug on him. Even so, Mejia -- who owns an unremarkable .629 OPS on the season -- may not have the massive workload behind the dish that some may have anticipated when No. 1 backstop Mike Zunino (shoulder) landed on the injured list June 10.
Jul 3 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting behind the plate and going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in the Rays' 11-5 win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, Mejia will get a breather due to the quick turnaround for Sunday's contest. Rene Pinto relieves Mejia behind the dish.
Jul 2 2022Mejia went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays knocked Thomas Hatch around for 10 runs in the nightcap, and Mejia was right in the middle of it. Mejia had three home runs for the season coming into the game. He raised his OPS from .588 to .642 with this one performance and will continue operating as the Rays' No. 1 catcher while Mike Zunino (shoulder) is on the injured list.
Jun 28 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was behind the plate for four of the Rays' last five games, so he's likely just getting a maintenance day Tuesday. Rene Pinto will catch for starting pitcher Shane Baz in the series opener with Milwaukee.
Jun 24 2022Mejia is not starting Friday's contest versus the Pirates, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will sit after he went 1-for-8 with a double over the last two contests. Rene Pinto will get the start at catcher and bat eighth Friday.
Jun 20 2022Mejia isn't starting Monday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will get a breather after he went 5-for-8 with a double and two runs over the last two matchups. Rene Pinto is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.
Jun 18 2022Mejia went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and a run scored in a 7-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia appears to have broken out of his recent slump. The 26-year-old catcher had a four-hit game after hitting a paltry .103 over his last 10 contests. Mejia will need more consistent production at the plate if he hopes to replicate his .260 average over 277 plate appearances from last season.
Jun 17 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Friday's game at Baltimore, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has worked as Tampa Bay's primary catcher over the past week with Mike Zunino (shoulder) on the shelf, but he's failed to take advantage thus far and is 1-for-17 in his past six contests. Rene Pinto will take over behind the plate Friday.
Jun 15 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After catching in both of the Rays' past two games, Mejia will get a breather while Rene Pinto checks in behind the dish. With Mike Zunino still stuck on the 10-day injured list and not progressing as quickly as anticipated in his recovery from a left shoulder injury, Mejia looks like he could have a clear path to an extended run as Tampa Bay's No. 1 backstop.
Jun 11 2022Mejia went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is set to step into a more significant role behind the plate after Mike Zunino (shoulder) landed on the injured list Friday. Mejia has four doubles in his last nine games, though he is hitting just .200 in that span with three runs scored. Overall, he is hitting .225/.231/.360 across 91 plate appearances on the season.
May 28 2022Mejia went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored Saturday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was behind the dish to make his fourth start in the team's last nine games. He delivered a double in the seventh inning and ultimately came around to score. The effort marked Mejia's first multi-hit game since May 6, the day he was activated from the COVID-19 injured list. Since, he has hit just .171 with three RBI and three runs scored across 13 games. Overall, Mejia has a .263/.259/.421 line across 58 plate appearances on the season.
May 7 2022Mejia went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Friday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was in the lineup for the first time since being activated from the COVID-19 list Thursday, which caused him to miss two weeks of action. He showed no signs of rust, knocking a single and coming around to score in his first plate appearance. Though Mejia has started only seven games this season due to his lengthy absence, he has at least one hit in five of those contests.
May 5 2022Mejia was activated off the COVID-19 injured list Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has been out for just shy of two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus. Prior to his absence, he'd been splitting time behind the plate with Mike Zunino, starting six of the team's first 13 games, and he'd gotten off to a hot start, hitting .348 with a pair of homers. He should return to a similar role now that he's healthy, with Rene Pinto heading to Triple-A Durham to clear space on the roster.
May 4 2022Mejia (illness) is scheduled to rejoin the Rays in Seattle for their upcoming four-game series, and he's expected to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list either Thursday or Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After clearing all COVID-19-related protocols over the weekend, Mejia reported to the Rays' spring facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. to appear in a pair of simulated games. Mejia has apparently looked good since resuming baseball activities, but the Rays will see how he's feeling Thursday before deciding whether to activate him for the start of the series or to give him an extra day of rest. Whenever he's formally reinstated, Mejia will replace Rene Pinto as the No. 2 option behind top catcher Mike Zunino.
May 1 2022Manager Kevin Cash said Mejia (illness) will play in rehab games at the Rays' spring facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Monday and Tuesday before being re-evaluated, Joey Johnston of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia rejoined the Rays on Sunday after completing his quarantine and clearing all protocols related to COVID-19, but he'll need at least a couple of days to get his conditioning in order following his initial positive test for the virus April 22. Assuming Mejia checks out fine following his two games in Port Charlotte, he could be formally activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Wednesday's series finale in Oakland.
Apr 22 2022Mejia was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday after testing positive for the virus, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, an additional RBI and an additional run Wednesday against the Cubs, and he'll now be unavailable coming off Thursday's scheduled off day. Mike Zunino should continue to work as Tampa Bay's primary catcher, and Rene Pinto was promoted to serve as the backup.
Apr 21 2022Mejia went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, an additional RBI and an additional run scored Wednesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia contributed to the Rays' four-run first inning with his second home run of the season. Four frames later, he delivered an insurance run with an RBI double. Mejia has split playing time nearly evenly with Mike Zunino behind the plate to begin the season, and he's performed well by logging three multi-hit performances to go along with 10 RBI and five runs scored across seven games.
Apr 19 2022Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia and Mike Zunino have alternated starts to this point this season, but Zunino will receive the nod for the second straight game Tuesday. Mejia is 6-for-20 with a home run, seven RBI and three runs this year.
Apr 18 2022Mejia isn't starting Monday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia and Mike Zunino continue to alternate starts behind the dish to begin the year, and the latter will bat eighth as the starting catcher Monday. Mejia has hit .300 with a home run, seven RBI and three runs in six appearances this season.
Apr 9 2022Mejia went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs in the 5-3 win over the Orioles on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher opened the scoring in the contest, notching a single in the bottom of the second inning off of Jordan Lyles, driving in teammate Josh Lowe before later scoring on a Brett Phillips ground out. Mejia busted the game wide open in the following inning, blasting a 2-2 fastball from Lyles over the fence, once again scoring Lowe and putting the Rays up 5-2. The 26-year-old is expected to operate in a timeshare with Mike Zunino behind the plate this season, though Mejia is the better option against right-handers.
Mar 22 2022Mejia and the Rays agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.455 million contract to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Now that he's on the books for 2022, Mejia should be locked in to the smaller portion of a timeshare at catcher with Mike Zunino. Last season, the role gave Mejia a modicum of value in AL-only formats and in deeper mixed leagues that started two catchers. He logged 277 plate appearances -- a high total for a nominal No. 2 catcher -- and finished with a palatable .260 average to go with six home runs, 35 RBI and 31 runs.
Oct 2 2021Mejia went 2-for-3 with a walk in a win over the Yankees on Friday and now has three multi-hit efforts in his last five starts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The reserve backstop is hitting a sensational .438 (7-for-16) with two doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs over that span, boosting his season slash line to a serviceable .256/.317/.415 across 272 plate appearances. Mejia has arguably been everything the Rays could have hoped for in a backup catcher when they acquired him in the Blake Snell trade with San Diego in December, as the 25-year-old has shown flashes of the offensive prowess he displayed at multiple minor-league stops in the Padres organization.
Sep 29 2021Mejia will start at catcher and bat ninth Wednesday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Rays having secured the best record in the American League, manager Kevin Cash is expected to rest several regulars over the final week of the season, including No. 1 catcher Mike Zunino. As a result of Zunino getting more frequent days off of late, Mejia has picked up more work. He'll pick up his fourth start in six games after going 4-for-10 with two doubles, a walk, two RBI and two runs in his previous three starts.
Sep 13 2021Mejia will start at catcher and bat ninth Monday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite going 0-for-9 over his last three games, Mejia will stick behind the plate for the third time in four contests. Mejia appears to have moved into a timeshare at catcher with Mike Zunino, and the two could continue to split starts in relatively even fashion for the remainder of the campaign.
Sep 8 2021Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Mejia (shoulder) will be available off the bench for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though top backstop Mike Zunino will remain behind the dish Wednesday, the Rays' decision not to add another catcher to the 28-man active roster for the series finale in Boston implies confidence in Mejia's health. A bruised right shoulder has kept Mejia on the bench for two straight games, but Cash said the 25-year-old could re-enter the lineup Friday in Detroit.
Sep 7 2021Mejia (shoulder) isn't starting Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia started Monday but was removed from the game due to a right shoulder contusion after he was hit by a foul tip. Although Mike Zunino will start behind the dish, Mejia is reportedly feeling "a lot better" Tuesday, so he could be available off the bench.
Sep 6 2021Mejia was removed from Monday's game against Boston due to a right shoulder contusion, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia went 0-for-3 before being lifted for a pinch hitter during the seventh inning. The 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.
Aug 25 2021Mejia went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run Wednesday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia came to the plate with the game tied at four in the ninth inning and delivered his sixth home run of the season to put the Rays in the lead. Though he gets only sporadic playing time, Mejia has at least one hit in eight of his last 10 appearances, including two doubles, one home run, eight RBI and six runs scored. For the season, he a .267/.326/.446 line across 222 plate appearances.
Aug 22 2021Mejia went 2-for-4 with a three-run double in Sunday's 9-0 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia drilled a clutch three-run double in the sixth inning to give the Rays a huge 6-0 lead. It was just his third extra-base hit this month and his first RBI since Aug. 10. He's sporting a .752 OPS with 28 RBI through 218 plate appearances.
Aug 1 2021Mejia went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His big blow was a two-run shot off Nathan Eovaldi in the fourth inning. Mejia has two of his five homers on the season in his last six starts, a stretch during which he's batting .364 (8-for-22) with two triples, six runs and nine RBI. Mike Zunino has started five games during that time and gone just 3-for-17 (.176) with a solo shot, and the playing time mix could tip further in Mejia's favor over the final two months if the gap between their respective production remains that wide.
Jul 23 2021Mejia went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run in an extra-inning win over Cleveland on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia continues to capitalize on a rare string of successive starts due to the absence of Mike Zunino (hip), with Thursday's production pushing his average over the last five games to a blistering .438 (7-for-16). The reserve backstop's three-bagger was just an extension of a favorable pattern of putting very good wood on the ball -- four of Mejia's seven hits during the aforementioned span have now gone for extra bases. Although the Associated Press reports Zunino wanted to play Thursday but was overruled by manager Kevin Cash in favor of one more day of rest, Mejia may have earned himself at least a slight uptick in playing time going forward with his recent performances.
Jul 22 2021Mejia went 2-for-4 with two runs in a win over the Orioles on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The reserve backstop drew another start for Mike Zunino (hip) and once again came through at the plate. Mejia has now hit safely in four straight games (three starts), quickly pushing his average and OPS up by 20 and 62 points, respectively.
Jul 21 2021Mejia went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, two runs scored and five RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher launched a two-run shot off John Means in the fourth inning, then added some insurance with a bases-loaded triple in the eighth off Shaun Anderson. Mejia's outburst was either shocking or long overdue, depending on your perspective -- he hadn't gone yard since May 23 and hadn't even collected an RBI since June 22. On the season, he's slashing .255/.317/.416 with four homers and 19 RBI through 50 games.
Jul 3 2021Mejia went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run in a loss to the Blue Jays on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The reserve backstop came through at the plate yet again in another spot start, forging the only multi-hit effort of the night for the Rays. Mejia has now hit safely in four of the last five starts, and while his .256/.317/.388 slash line is uninspiring overall, it's arguably serviceable for a backup catcher, especially when considering one-third of his 33 hits have gone for extra bases (eight doubles, three home runs).
Jun 23 2021Mejia went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in a loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia snapped an 0-for-8 skid that had encompassed his last three games with Tuesday's production, which pushed his season average back up to .246. The reserve backstop has been a reasonably effective performer in clutch situations, posting a serviceable .259/.323/.444 slash line over 32 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.
Jun 14 2021Mejia went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run in a win over the Orioles on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backup catcher snapped out of a brief two-game slump with Sunday's multi-hit effort, his first since May 23. Mejia has proven reasonably productive with his opportunities thus far this season, posting a .252/.319/.393 slash line with nine extra-base hits and 13 RBI over 120 plate appearances, figures he's complemented with a modest 17.5 percent strikeout rate, the lowest of his career.
May 31 2021Mejia is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mike Zunino appears to be manager Kevin Cash's preferred option behind the dish, at least for the time being. Monday will mark the fourth time in the last five games that Mejia is not in the starting nine.
May 30 2021Mejia is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will head to the bench for the third time in the past four games Sunday. Mike Zunino receives another start behind the plate for the Rays.
May 27 2021Mejia will sit for the second straight day Thursday against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia and Mike Zunino have split time very evenly this season when both have been healthy, so the fact that Zunino has now started three times in four games doesn't necessarily indicate a shift in the balance between the pair. Mejia owns a career-best .784 OPS so far this year, though Zunino has outperformed him, posting an .869 OPS, another career best.
May 26 2021Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia heads to the bench while he and Mike Zunino alternate turns behind the dish for the sixth game in a row. Both catchers have been exceptionally productive with the bat this season, so expect a fairly even timeshare at catcher to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
May 24 2021Mejia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was behind the dish for the Rays' 6-4 win Sunday afternoon and enjoyed another productive day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo home run. The 25-year-old has left the yard in both of his past two starts to improve his OPS to .807 on the season, but he's still stuck in a timeshare with the similarly productive Mike Zunino (.904 OPS), who will catch Monday's series finale.
May 22 2021Mejia went 1-for-4 with two walks and a grand slam in Friday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His second homer of the season came in dramatic fashion as he drove a Jeremy Beasley offering over the fence in right field with the bases loaded in the 12th inning to break open a 5-5 tie. Mejia hadn't driven in a run since April 21, and the catcher is slashing only .185/.353/.296 through 34 plate appearances in May even after Friday's heroics.
May 18 2021Mejia will sit Tuesday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia returned from an intercostal strain Sunday and started right away, but he won't be in the lineup on an everyday basis. He and Mike Zunino split time behind the plate fairly evenly prior to Mejia's injury and will continue to do so going forward.
May 16 2021Mejia (ribs) was activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia reported significant improvement with his left intercostal strain and will end up returning after the minimum. Kevan Smith was designated for assignment. A top prospect in the Cleveland and San Diego systems, Mejia has failed to live up to that billing, but he's off to a great start this season (.300/.348/.450) and should slot back in to the No. 1 catcher role for Tampa Bay.
May 13 2021Mejia (ribs) is feeling "significantly better" according to manager Kevin Cash, and the backstop could be activated Sunday when first eligible, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was officially placed on the injured list May 8 retroactive to two days prior, which indeed makes Sunday his first opportunity to return to action. The 25-year-old was particularly standing out for his offensive contributions prior to his injury, slashing .300/.348/.450 across 67 plate appearances while alternating time behind the dish with Mike Zunino.
May 8 2021Mejia (ribs) was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to May 6, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was scratched from Friday's lineup due to left intercostal discomfort, although it wasn't believed to be a serious injury. He apparently wasn't feeling better Saturday and will now spend time on the injured list. Mike Zunino should serve as the primary catcher in Mejia's absence while Kevan Smith should be available as a backup.
May 7 2021Mejia (ribs) isn't believed to be dealing with a serious injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was scratched from Friday's lineup due to a left intercostal strain, but manager Kevin Cash said that the catcher could play if needed. A better idea of Mejia's status could be known based on how he feels Saturday, but it's unlikely that he'll miss significant time.
May 6 2021Mejia isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went hitless with a strikeout in three at-bats Wednesday. Mike Zunino will start behind the plate and bat seventh.
May 4 2021Mejia is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is hitting .286/.324/.514 with one home run over his last 10 games and has started three of the last seven. While Mejia is the superior offensive catcher to Mike Zunino, who is starting behind the dish Tuesday, they will maintain a close playing time split due to Zunino's superior defense.
May 1 2021Mejia isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Astros, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will be out of the lineup for a second straight game as he continues to split time behind the dish. Mike Zunino will serve as the starting backstop and bat ninth.
Apr 30 2021Mejia is not in the lineup Friday against the Astros, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old and Mike Zunino have alternated starts over the past week, and Mejia will take a seat after going 1-for-4 with a double during Thursday's series finale against the A's.
Apr 28 2021Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will alternate turns behind the plate with Mike Zunino for the sixth straight game, with both backstops picking up three starts apiece during that span. After going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run in Tuesday's 4-3 win, Mejia is now slashing a robust .311/.333/.489 through 49 plate appearances.
Apr 26 2021Mejia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mike Zunino will get a turn behind the plate after Mejia had caught in three of the last four games. Zunino remains the superior defensive option of the two, but Mejia appears to have shown enough improvement in that area early on during his first season in Tampa Bay to turn the Rays' catching situation into more of a timeshare than it has been in recent years. Both backstops have gotten off to strong starts with the bat as well, but Zunino's track record offers less hope that he can maintain his hot start than Mejia.
Apr 25 2021Mejia will start at catcher and bat eighth Sunday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be behind the plate for the fourth time in five games, perhaps signaling that he's moved ahead of Mike Zunino on the depth chart at catcher. While Mejia has his shortcomings as a receiver, he's at least made strides in that area so far this season and offers an upgrade over Zunino with the bat. Through his first 39 plate appearances with Tampa Bay, Mejia is slashing .286/.316/.457 with an excellent 7.7 percent strikeout rate.
Apr 17 2021Mejia went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional RBI during Saturday's 6-3 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old struggled to find his footing in the majors since making his debut with Cleveland in 2017, but he's off to a strong start in 2021. Mejia has a .333/.370/.542 slash line with one home run, two doubles and five RBI through eight games this season.
Apr 16 2021Mejia went 2-for-4 in Thursday's 6-4 extra-innings loss to Texas ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backup catcher has started strong at the plate this season, now hitting .300 in 20 at-bats with only one strikeout. A former top prospect, Mejia has been involved in multiple blockbuster trades throughout his career, but has yet to live up to his high offensive expectations. That being said, his performance early in 2021 has been promising, and if it continues it may be enough to earn Mejia more opportunities over starter Mike Zunino, who's never hit for a respectable average and has been no different this year.
Apr 8 2021Mejia, who went 1-for-3 with a double and a run against the Red Sox on Wednesday, has hit safely in all three of his starts thus far. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The reserve backstop is hitting .333 (3-for-9) in the early going, with his two-bagger Wednesday serving as his first extra-base hit of the campaign. Mejia also has two walks and has yet to strike out over his first 11 plate appearances, making him the polar opposite of free-swinging position mate Mike Zunino in that regard.
Apr 3 2021Mejia went 1-for-2 with an RBI sacrifice fly and a walk in a win over the Marlins on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backup backstop didn't have to wait long to draw his first start of the season, and his ninth-inning sac fly gave the Rays some valuable breathing room by extending their lead to two runs. The switch-hitting Mejia should see his fair share of starts against right-handed pitching this season and could potentially carve out a solid swath of playing time if he proves productive at the plate.
Mar 3 2021Mejia, who went 1-for-2 with a double in Tuesday's Grapefruit League loss to the Red Sox, has pleased the Rays coaching staff with his progress early in spring training, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. "We're excited, thrilled with where he's at," manager Kevin Cash said. "We've got to make sure that we can continue getting him around the pitchers, having conversations and learning the little things that are so important that [pitching coach Kyle Snyder and bullpen coach Stan Boroski] value as far as the simple messages." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is one of the more intriguing prospects to watch in spring camp, considering he was once considered on the fast track to stardom with the Padres organization. The 25-year-old is experiencing a reset of sorts in Tampa Bay after arriving in the Blake Snell trade, and the Rays are intent on grooming him as the switch-hitting complement to starting catcher Mike Zunino, who's only under contract through the end of the 2021 season. Cash notes Mejia has been kept busy getting familiarized with the pitching staff by catching plenty of bullpen and live batting practice sessions, and the Rays skipper adds he plans to single out certain pitchers and frequent 2021 opponents in deciding when to get Mejia game action during the balance of the Grapefruit League schedule.
Feb 23 2021Mejia, once considered one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball and part of the Rays' return from the Padres in the Blake Snell trade, has high expectations going into 2021, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is still just 25 years old and already has one solid big-league season under his belt, having slashed .265/.316/.438 with 21 extra-base hits (11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs) and 22 RBI across 244 plate appearances as a rookie with the Padres in 2019. However, last season was essentially a washout for Mejia, who lost his father in January 2020 and then struggled to a .077/.143/.179 line across 42 PAs over a 17-game span. Nevertheless, the switch-hitting backstop appears primed for the fresh start he'll get in Tampa, having significantly impressed Rays third-base coach Rodney Linares with his play behind the plate and with the bat in the Dominican Winter League and fitting in seamlessly with team's catching plans as a complement to the right-handed Mike Zunino. Given Mejia once put together a 50-game hitting streak during his minor league days, the team essentially views last season's anemic offensive numbers as an outlier, while also having faith he'll refine his defensive skills with the help of the team's stellar coaching staff.
Feb 21 2021Mejia made it to camp Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was slightly delayed getting back into the United States and then had to go through the intake process. Given that it's still well over a month until Opening Day, he should have plenty of time to get up to full speed by the time the regular season begins.
Feb 18 2021Mejia was delayed getting into the country but should be able to join team workouts on Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Similar logistical delays may pop up for a few players around the league given the difficulties of starting the season during a global pandemic. Mejia's teammate Diego Castillo's arrival has been delayed for the same reason. Both players won't be able to join their teammates until completing a mandatory quarantine, but they should have plenty of time to prepare for the start of the regular season, barring further delays.
Dec 27 2020Mejia is set to be traded from the Padres to the Rays in exchange for left-hander Blake Snell, pending a review of medical records, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was unable to maintain a spot on the Padres' active roster in 2020 after the team acquired Austin Nola and Jason Castro during the season. Although Mejia struggled mightily over a limited sample last year, slashing .077/.143/.179 with one home run and two RBI over 42 plate appearances, he should compete for major-league playing time behind the dish as Mike Zunino also had a lackluster year in 2020.
Sep 19 2020Mejia was optioned by the Padres on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres simply didn't need Mejia, as they acquired both Austin Nola and Jason Castro while he was out for a month with a bruised left thumb. Nola presumably lines up as the team's starting catcher heading into next season, but Castro will be a free agent, so Mejia could earn a bench spot next year. He won't necessarily have the job locked down, though, as he hit just .077/.143/.179 in 42 plate appearances this season, dragging his career line down to .225/.282/.386 in 362 trips to the plate. Eric Hosmer returned from a fractured finger in a corresponding move.
Sep 16 2020Mejia (thumb) was activated from the injured list Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia missed a month with a bruised left thumb. While he was out, the Padres acquired both Austin Nola and Jason Castro, so he could be buried down the depth chart for the stretch run. The fact that he was hitting .079/.146/.184 in 16 games prior to the injury certainly doesn't help his case for playing time, though he'll remain at least a bench option for now. Abraham Almonte was optioned in a corresponding move.
Aug 29 2020Mejia (thumb) has been hitting at the Padres' alternate training site and could be activated from the injured list in the near future, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was placed on the 10-day IL with a left-thumb bruise Aug. 17. He has resumed swinging the bat, though he hasn't yet reached a point in which he's ready to return. "He is progressing," manager Jayce Tingler said. "He's currently at USD, and he's getting a lot of at-bats. The hand continues to improve. All the reports from his game swings, he's taking baby steps forward from both sides of the plate." Cassavell notes that Mejia isn't likely to rejoin the Padres on their current road trip in Colorado, but he could be activated sometime next week.
Aug 17 2020Mejia (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was revealed to have a left thumb contusion Monday, and his placement on the injured list will give him extra time to recover while allowing the Padres to add depth at catcher on the 28-man roster. Luis Torrens was recalled in a corresponding move, but Austin Hedges should handle the majority of the duties behind the plate while Mejia is sidelined.
Aug 16 2020Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia was behind the plate for the first two games of the series, going hitless across seven at-bats. Austin Hedges will check in for him at catcher, working in a battery with starting pitcher Garrett Richards.
Aug 13 2020Mejia is not starting Thursday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will head to the bench as Austin Hedges picks up the start at catcher in Thursday's series finale. Across 14 games this season, Mejia is slashing just .097/.176/.226 with one home run.
Aug 11 2020Mejia remains on the bench Tuesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia and Austin Hedges, who gets the call behind the plate Tuesday, have now each been in the lineup nine times in the season's first 18 games. Mejia has just a .429 OPS this season, though that's still better than Hedges' .375 mark.
Aug 10 2020Mejia will sit Monday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has started nine times behind the plate this season compared to eight for Austin Hedges, who starts Sunday. The pair have alternated starts for eight straight games, so Mejia should have a good chance to return to action Tuesday.
Aug 8 2020Mejia is not in the lineup Saturday against Saturday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia and Austin Hedges have come as close to an even split as possible behind the plate through the first 15 games of the year. Mejia has been in the lineup eight times, while Hedges, who starts Saturday, has gotten the nod on seven occasions.
Aug 5 2020Mejia isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has seen the majority of the time behind the plate over the first several weeks of the season, but he'll get his second game off in the past three contests. Austin Hedges will be the starting catcher, batting eighth.
Aug 3 2020Mejia is not in the lineup Monday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia had started the past two games at catcher, going 1-for-6 with a double and two strikeouts over that span. However, Austin Hedges will start behind the plate Monday, batting eighth.
Jul 31 2020Mejia will not start Friday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Through eight games, there doesn't appear to be any clear starter behind the plate for the Padres. Mejia started on Opening Day but will now sit for the fourth time, with Austin Hedges again getting the nod.
Jul 29 2020Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game at San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia started the past two games but remains hitless through four appearances. Austin Hedges receives the start behind the plate for the Friars on Wednesday.
Jul 25 2020Mejia isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia got the nod at catcher for the Padres' Opening Day contest, but he'll sit out after going 0-for-2 on Friday. Austin Hedges will start behind the plate Saturday, batting eighth. The two are expected to split time in some way this season, although their exact usage remains to be seen.
Jul 24 2020Mejia started at catcher in Friday's win over Arizona, batting eighth in the lineup and going 0-for-2. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres have been mostly vague about how they will divide playing time behind the plate between Mejia and Austin Hedges this season, so the decision to give Mejia the Opening Day start shouldn't be over-analyzed. Still, Hedges caught most of Chris Paddack's starts last year, thus Mejia's presence in the lineup Friday comes as a bit of a surprise. For what it's worth, Hedges came into the game to play defense after Mejia was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, and the team has yet to announce which of the backstops will be in the lineup for Saturday's contest.
Mar 6 2020Mejia is trying out a new stance behind the plate in an effort to improve defensively, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the adjusted stance, Mejia kneels rather than squats. The Padres hope the change will enable Mejia to better frame and block pitches as he ranked among the worst backstops in baseball in multiple defensive metrics last season. In spite of his offensive potential, the team has not committed to making Mejia their unchallenged starter at catcher thanks largely to his poor glovework and the exceptional defense of fellow backstop Austin Hedges. The pair figure to fall into some sort of timeshare this season, but if Mejia can show adequate progress behind the plate, he could lock up the lion's share of playing time before long.
Sep 28 2019Mejia is not starting Saturday against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres don't appear to have a true starting catcher at the moment. Mejia and Luis Torrens have each started three of the last 10 games behind the plate, while Saturday's starter Austin Hedges had started four times in that stretch.
Sep 27 2019Mejia isn't in the starting lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia is in line for another day off, giving Luis Torrens a chance to start behind the dish. Torrens will bat seventh in Friday's series opener.
Sep 26 2019Mejia is not in the lineup Thursday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has appeared in five games (three starts) since returning from an oblique injury, going 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles and two RBI. Austin Hedges is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth in this one.
Sep 24 2019Mejia is not starting Tuesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia returned from an oblique injury last Tuesday but has started just two games since then. Luis Torrens gets the nod behind the plate on this occasion.
Sep 22 2019Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Austin Hedges will step in behind the dish for the day game after Mejia started at catcher in Saturday's 4-2 loss. Mejia has gone 2-for-7 with a walk in two games since returning from the injured list Sept. 17.
Sep 20 2019Mejia isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia will take a seat following a scheduled off day Thursday. Luis Torrens is set to handle the catching duties and bat eighth.
Sep 19 2019Mejia is not in Thursday's lineup against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He returned to action Wednesday after missing almost three weeks with an oblique injury and went 2-for-4 with a strikeout. Austin Hedges will catch and hit eighth.
Sep 18 2019Mejia is in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia has not started a game since August 27 because of an oblique injury, but he is finally ready to get back behind the plate. He will hit sixth Wednesday against Brewers starter Adrian Houser.
Sep 17 2019Mejia (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia found himself on the injured list at the end of August after suffering a right oblique strain, though he managed to return in just over two weeks. Despite Mejia's activation, Austin Hedges gets the call behind the dish and will bat eighth Tuesday.
Sep 14 2019Mejia (oblique) could rejoin the Padres as early as Monday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia began taking batting practice last week and has since moved on to game action in the instructional league in Arizona. The Padres will head to Milwaukee for a four-game series beginning Monday, during which Mejia could rejoin the team. He has been on the 10-day IL since Aug. 30 while nursing a strained right oblique.
Sep 9 2019Mejia (oblique) took batting practice Monday and could return next week, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mejia swung the bat for the first time since suffering a right oblique strain Aug. 28. Manager Andy Green indicated that Mejia would take batting practice for a few more days before potentially playing in the instructional league. If all goes well, the 23-year-old could return to the Padres next week.
Sep 5 2019Mejia (oblique) played catch up to 90 feet and participated in defensive and agility drills Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Andy Green indicated that Mejia is still on track for a return this year as long as he continues to progress. The 23-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain Aug. 30. He is hitting .263 with eight homers in 205 at-bats this season.
Aug 30 2019Mejia was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday due to a right oblique strain.
Aug 29 2019Mejia is not in the lineup Thursday against the Giants.
Aug 28 2019Mejia is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers.
Aug 22 2019Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Reds.
Aug 20 2019Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's win against the Reds.
Aug 18 2019Mejia is not in Sunday's lineup against the Phillies.
Aug 15 2019Mejia went 2-for-3 with a walk and scored twice in Wednesday's win over the Rays.
Aug 13 2019Mejia isn't starting Tuesday's game against the Rays.
Aug 12 2019Mejia went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's loss to Colorado.
Aug 4 2019Mejia went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base in a losing effort against the Dodgers on Sunday.
Jul 29 2019Mejia is not starting Monday against the Orioles.
Jul 26 2019Mejia isn't in the starting lineup<\/a> for Friday's game against the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2019Mejia is not starting Wednesday<\/a> against the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 20 2019Mejia is out of the lineup<\/a> for Saturday's game against the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 18 2019Mejia is out of the lineup<\/a> for Thursday's game against the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 17 2019Mejia is not starting Wednesday<\/a> against the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 13 2019Mejia went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Braves.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 7 2019Mejia is not in the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 4 2019Mejia remains on the bench<\/a> Thursday against the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 3 2019Mejia is not starting Wednesday<\/a> against the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019Mejia (forearm) is catching and batting sixth<\/a> Monday against the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 30 2019Mejia (forearm) is out of the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 29 2019Mejia was removed from Saturday's game<\/a> against the Cardinals with a right forearm contusion after being hit by a pitch.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 28 2019Mejia is not in Friday's lineup<\/a> against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 26 2019Mejia will serve as the Padres' designated hitter<\/a> and will bat sixth Wednesday against the Orioles.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 23 2019Mejia is not in the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game versus the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 22 2019Mejia will start at catcher<\/a> and bat seventh Saturday against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Mejia went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 17 2019Mejia was recalled<\/a> from Triple-A El Paso on Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 1 2019Mejia (knee) was activated off the 10-day injured list<\/a> and optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 1 2019Mejia (knee) was activated<\/a> off the 10-day injured list Saturday and optioned to Triple-A El Paso.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 21 2019Mejia (knee) will make a rehab appearance for Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports<\/a>.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 17 2019Mejia (knee) has started baseball activities and could be in line for a rehab assignment soon, Bill Center of Padres.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 11 2019Mejia landed on the 10-day injured list with a left knee sprain Saturday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2018Mejia was held out of action by the Padres following their trade for him until Tuesday because of a bruised arm, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Mejia made his debut Tuesday night for Triple-A El Paso. He had been repeatedly hit in the same place by foul balls. It'll be interesting to see how long the Padres keep Mejia at catcher, as his defensive abilities there have been questioned, whereas the incumbent Austin Hedges is considered a strong defensive catcher.
Jul 19 2018Mejia was sent to the Padres in exchange for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.The Padres were able to acquire another top-tier prospect in Mejia after dealing a pair of their impact arms out of the bullpen. Mejia came into this season as the nearly universal top-ranked catching prospect in baseball, though his eventual position in the majors is relatively up in the air. According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Mejia is confident in his abilities and desires to continue his progression as a catcher and the Padres are planning to keep him as a backstop, but the Indians were working to expand his game as an outfielder prior to this deal. The 22-year-old has already appeared in 12 games at the major-league level, including one contest this season. Across 79 games at Triple-A Columbus, Mejia slashed .279/.328/.426 with seven home runs and 45 RBI.
Jul 15 2018Mejia was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.Mejia's latest stint in the big leagues lasted just two days. He went 0-for-2 with two walks during one start in the designated hitter slot. The Indians are expected to make a corresponding move at the conclusion of the All-Star break.
Jul 14 2018Mejia will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth Saturday against the Yankees.With lefty CC Sabathia due up for New York, Yonder Alonso will head to the bench as Edwin Encarnacion moves to first base and Mejia -- just recalled from Triple-A Columbus -- slots in at DH. Mejia has hit .324/.346/.527 against left-handed pitching with Columbus so far this season. It's uncertain how long the Indians plan to keep him at the major-league level.
Jul 14 2018Mejia was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.Mejia has put together a .279/.329/.428 slash line with seven homers and 43 RBI over 77 games for the Clippers in 2018. He'll bat sixth and serve as the designated hitter for Saturday's matchup against the Yankees.
Jul 13 2018Mejia (forearm) went 2-for-5 with an RBI for Triple-A Columbus in its 6-4 win over Louisville on Thursday.Mejia missed several days after being hit in the forearm by a pitch Sunday, but he showed no ill effects in his return to action, turning in his 27th multi-hit game of the season. Overall, the 22-year-old has a healthy .281/.331/.431 slash line, but his recent audition in the outfield didn't go well and the Indians seem content with their options behind the plate at the major-league level, at least for the time being. With that, we may not see Mejia back in the majors until September.
Jul 7 2018Mejia hasn't been transitioning to the outfield as well as Cleveland has hoped, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.The Indians have been working to make Mejia an outfielder as the team has more of a need there than behind the plate, but Mejia hasn't progressed as the team had hoped, apparently because he still views himself as a catcher. Still, once the team feels satisfied with him defensively in the outfield, he could earn a promotion and regular playing time with Lonnie Chisenhall (calf) facing an extended absence. The 22-year-old has hit a solid .279/.327/.435 for Triple-A Columbus this season.
Jun 11 2018Mejia was called up by the Indians on Monday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Despite seeming nearly big-league ready to start the season, Mejia was sent to Triple-A Columbus, in part to get some work in the outfield, as Cleveland was apparently dissatisfied with his work at catcher. He's done very little to force his way back to the majors this season, hitting a mere .214/.271/.333, but he'll be up anyway as the Indians need a backup catcher with Roberto Perez out with a bruised hand. Perez has not been placed on the disabled list, however, so Mejia's stay could be short.
Apr 14 2018Mejia's transition to the outfield is a work in progress, The Athletic reports.Mejia has played left field twice in his first seven games for Triple-A Columbus this season. The Indians are reluctant to call him up until they feel more comfortable with him in the outfield, which may take some time. He may not be up with the big club until September, barring injuries to the Indians' primary catchers, Yan Gomes and Robert Perez.
Mar 12 2018Mejia will receive some time in the outfield in minor-league camp and early in the season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.The Indians still view Mejia as a catcher, but his bat is considered to be far more advanced than his glove. The team likes the defense of its current catcher tandem, Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez, and they're quite set at designated hitter with Edwin Encarnacion. They experimented with him at third base but did not like what they saw. Outfield could be his best route to the big leagues, as the team's corner outfielders are a collection of mediocre or injury-prone players such as Lonnie Chisenhall, Michael Brantley, and Brandon Guyer.
Mar 9 2018Mejia (foot) is in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.Mejia is batting sixth as a designated hitter. He has been out since Tuesday with a foot contusion after getting hit by a pitch. He should be fully recovered by the start of the season, though it's likely that he starts the year with Triple-A Columbus.
Mar 6 2018Mejia has been diagnosed with a right foot contusion, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Mejia suffered the injury after being hit by a pitch on his foot during Tuesday's Cactus League game. The good news is manager Terry Francona said the backstop is fine, noting his removal from the contest was simply precautionary. While the Indians could play it safe with the 22-year-old and hold him out of spring action for a little, the issue doesn't sound like anything that will affect his status for the start of the season. The highly-regarded prospect is set to open the season with Triple-A Columbus, though he could earn a promotion to the majors if Yan Gomes or Roberto Perez were to go down with an injury.
Mar 6 2018Mejia was removed from Tuesday's Cactus League game after being hit by a pitch on his foot, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.It's possible his removal was simply precautionary, as Mejia was able to walk off under his own power after briefly being checked on by manager Terry Francona and a member of the team's medical staff. More specifics regarding the injury should come forth once he's further evaluated, but consider the highly-touted prospect day-to-day for the time being.
Feb 21 2018Mejia is expected to open the 2018 season with Triple-A Columbus, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports. ""He's a really well thought of young catcher," manager Terry Francona said of Mejia. "I don't think he's even been to Triple-A, so there's nothing wrong with him getting some seasoning there."With Roberto Perez and Yan Gomes expected to split catching duties again for the Indians this season, Mejia will open the year as the starter for Triple-A Columbus. Francona didn't rule out a possible promotion for Mejia if either Gomes or Perez were to go down with an injury, but at this point it sounds like the highly-touted 22-year-old will spend most of the 2018 campaign continuing his development in the minors.
Sep 4 2017Mejia will serve as the Indians' designated hitter and bat eighth Monday against the White Sox.Both of the Tribe's top two catchers, Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez, have struggled at the dish for the balance of the season, but Perez in particular has heated up of late to become a key part of the Indians' 11-game winning streak. As a result, it's not expected that Mejia, one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, will be in store for much duty behind the plate in September, but with Edwin Encarnacion receiving the day off to rest, manager Terry Francona will hand the 21-year-old his first career start in the majors. Mejia had previously appeared as a pinch hitter in two contests, going 0-for-2 with a run scored.
Sep 1 2017The Indians promoted Mejia from Double-A Akron on Friday.The backstop, who was one of last summer's hottest minor-league players in the midst of his 50-game hit streak, could log at least one start per week, which could help some AL-only fantasy players. Mejia finishes his Akron campaign with a stellar .297/.346/.490 line, with 14 home runs and seven stolen bases over 383 plate appearances.
Aug 29 2017Mejia will get some reps at third base in the Arizona Fall League, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Mejia was listed as an infielder when preliminary AFL rosters were released, and it wasn't a mistake. The 21-year-old will indeed play some third this fall, but it's not the beginning of a full-time positional switch; the Indians are just trying to enhance Mejia's defensive versatility. Maintaining catcher eligibility will be big for Mejia's fantasy value, but it's looking like Mejia's bat will profile just fine at any position (.300/.349/.499 this season) if a move out from behind the plate is necessary at some point down the line.
Aug 22 2017Mejia, 21, is batting .307/.358/.509 with 13 home runs, 49 RBI and seven steals through 84 games at Double-A Akron.Mejia has had two short stints on the Disabled List in 2017, but otherwise it has been another rather successful season for arguably the top catching prospect in baseball. Unfortunately for Mejia, starting catcher Yan Gomes is under contract through 2019, even though he has been disappointing with the bat. As such, the Indians may need other ways to get Mejia in the starting lineup, which could occur as early as next season.
Jul 22 2017Mejia, 21, is day-to-day at Double-A Akron with a hip strain, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.He has not played since July 20, but it sounds like he may not require a stint on the 7-day DL for the RubberDucks. Mejia, the best catching prospect in the game, is hitting .320/.368/.525 with 10 home runs and five steals in 270 plate appearances. He has an exemplary 35:19 K:BB, despite being 3.2 years younger than the typical player in the Eastern League.
Jul 7 2017Mejia will suit up in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game in Miami, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Mejia will join the World Team for the second year in a row. The 21-year-old backstop is having no problem handling his first season at Double-A, slashing .338/.381/.550 through 58 games with Akron. He leads the Eastern League in batting average while ranking third in OPS. Mejia is performing at a level that should earn him a September debut once MLB rosters expand.
Jun 12 2017Mejia notched his fifth straight multi-hit game for Double-A Akron, going 4-for-5 with a home run.The top prospect is hitting .369/.412/.631 through 38 games, leading the Eastern League in batting average and OPS. Cleveland hasn't expressed interest in bringing up the catcher in 2017, but his performance in MiLB shows he's not far from being ready.
May 22 2017Mejia (groin) was activated from the minor-league DL at Double-A Akron on Friday.The Tribe's top prospect wasted no time making his presence felt upon returning to the RubberDucks lineup. Over the weekend, the 21-year-old went 3-for-6 with a double, two homers and three RBI. Mejia is slashing .307/.344/.534 through his first 23 games in the Eastern League.
May 11 2017Mejia was placed on the 7-day disabled list at Double-A Akron on Thursday due to groin soreness.One of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, Mejia's bat has been up to par in his first taste of the Double-A level, and with some further refinement behind the plate, it's not entirely out of the question for him to surface at the big-league level in the second half of 2017. The groin issue represents a setback in his development, but so long as it doesn't prove to be a multi-month concern, it shouldn't dim his long-term outlook too much.