FTB Spotlight – MJ Melendez

High School – St. James

Grad Year – 2017

FTB – Going into his 3rd season with FTB

 

Growing up in a baseball family means there are high expectations from an early age.  This is especially true in the Melendez family.  MJ comes from parents that played college sports, and his Dad (Mervyl Melendez) has won multiple D1 Conference titles at both Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State.  FTB also has its own expectations at the catching position.  FTB has been fortunate enough to have 11 catchers making USA National Teams, 8 Perfect Game All Americans, 4 Under Armour All Americans, 15 Catchers drafted since 2010, and 1 catcher to be called up to the big leagues.  If you have ever seen MJ play, its apparent he feels no pressure from any expectations.  The game comes incredibly easy to MJ in the three major areas; Offense, defense, and the metal side.                 

A left handed hitting catcher will always be in high demand at the next level.  MJ has a nice mix of current offensive production and tools that project very loud in the future.  MJ has very loose wrists, can hit to all fields, and has produced against high level pitching on big stages.  His body is starting to transform and is showing good line drive power to the gaps that will continue to get better as he adds strength. The current production and future projection should put him in the short talks of the best all-around catchers in the country.    

There are very small group of players, at any position, that you can see take a couple of defensive reps and walk away going “that was different.”  What MJ is able to do behind the plate puts him in that small group.  For MJ, it all starts with his hips.  They are extremely flexible which allows him to easily shift as the ball is in flight to catch the ball in the middle of his body.  His hips also allow him to throw to bases very easily from different sets.  His hands, feet and throwing arm are also well above average for his position and peers. 

The 6th tool, maybe the most important tool, MJ grades off the charts.  His baseball IQ is so advanced for his age, surely a product of the household of athletes that raised him.  He wants to be the guy that gets the chance to decide the game.  Whether it is the big at bat with the game on the line, calling the right pitches in the 7th, or getting to use his arm to control the running game, MJ wants the responsibility. You can see at first glance that he is willing to do whatever it takes to make people around him better.  The most important tool for the position he plays, he seems to take the most pride in. 

MJ was a key member of the Underclass team that won the Perfect Game WWBA Underclass World Championship this Fall.  He hit in the 2 hole and split the catching responsibilities.  He has a history of helping teams make deep runs in the playoffs (Final 4 of the Perfect Game BCS this summer, Final 4 of the Perfect Game WWBA National Championship).  If FTB continues to have the success on the field that it has in the past, MJ will be a key part of that.  These expectations are nothing new for MJ!