MJ Melendez: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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Everyone is slumping, but there has got to be a way to solve this! It’s no secret that the Royals’ offense has been terrible this season. Hunter Renfroe and MJ Melendez, the two worst performers from last season, have taken much of the flak for the offensive struggles this season.

Kansas City Royals News / Royals Review / April 19

Two winners and 26 losers as the Royals lose 3-1 to the Tigers

A couple guys did well, no one did exceptionally poorly, but this is getting ridiculous MJ Melendez, as it turns out, was not the sole cause of the Royals’ early-season offensive ineptitude.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / April 19

Royals Demote 26-Year-Old Former Top Prospect In Significant Roster Shakeup

Major League Baseball is all about performance, no matter how highly regarded players might have been at any point throughout their careers. The Kansas City Royals' outfield has been underwhelming for a long time now, and 26-year-old MJ Melendez has been one of the biggest disappointments.

New York Mets News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most 40 home run seasons in MLB history' quiz

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Kansas City Royals News / MLB Trade Rumors / April 19

Royals activate veteran outfielder from 10-day IL

The Royals announced that outfielder MJ Melendez has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha. The move opens up a roster spot for Mark Canha, as the veteran outfielder/first baseman was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

Kansas City Royals News / Royals Review / April 17

Kansas City Royals Can’t Hit Water in a Fountain: Slumps, Swings, and Yankee Warnings

Not so fun when the other guys break out the brooms. The Kansas City Royals are 8-10 and stuck in a serious offensive funk—scoring just 24 runs in their last 11 games—and Royals Rundown hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco are here to talk through it all.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / April 17

Royals Outfielder Listed As 'No Longer Worth Defending' After Tough Start

The Kansas City Royals are off to a rough start this season. Through 19 games, they are 8-11 and were just swept by the New York Yankees. Kansas City sits 2 1/2 games behind the first place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central, while currently occupying third place.

MLB News / Kansas City Royals on SI / April 16

Orioles All-Star, Silver Slugger Could Become Top Target For Royals

Something miraculous happened for the Kansas City Royals during their 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. A Royals outfielder hit a home run and earned an RBI!

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / April 14

Royals Slumping 26-Year-Old Ex-Top Prospect 'Has Got To Go,' Urges MLB Writer

The outfield has been an issue for the Kansas City Royals for far too long, and one culprit in particular has stood out so far this season. After an offseason of limited improvements, the Royals were counting on 26-year-old MJ Melendez to finally have a long-awaited breakout season.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / April 12

Young Royals Outfielder Listed As Dead Weight On Team's Roster By MLB Writer

The Kansas City Royals have a 7-7 record after 14 games in the 2025 season. They are hoping to build off of last year's success and book a return trip to the postseason.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / April 8

Royals Urged To Move On From 26-Year-Old Former Top Prospect After Awful Start

If the Kansas City Royals were hoping for a late breakout from one of their outfielders, the start to the season certainly hasn't gone as planned. MJ Melendez was once considered the organization's second-best prospect behind Bobby Witt Jr., but the first three-plus years haven't gone according to plan.

Kansas City Royals News / Royals Review / April 4

MJ Melendez: Time to step up

The potential is there, but MJ is running out of time to show it MJ Melendez has started his fourth year in the Major Leagues, his age-26 season. From a position change of catcher to outfield because of struggles behind the dish, to declining every year at the plate.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / March 30

Young Royals Star Ranked 25th Among MLB Starting Left Fielders

The Kansas City Royals have split their first two games of the 2025 season against the Cleveland Guardians. They won 86 games last year, which was enough for them to clinch the second American League Wild Card spot.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / March 27

Royals 26-Year-Old Projected For Long-Awaited Breakout Thanks To 'Reworked Approach'

There are a few things the Kansas City Royals feel they can count on this season. They'll need something extra, though, to achieve their long-term goals.

Kansas City Royals News / Yardbarker / March 25

Five bold Royals predictions not involving Bobby Witt Jr.

In 2024, the Kansas City Royals made a historic turnaround, improving by 30 wins over their dismal 2023 campaign. Here are five bold predictions for the 2025 season.

Royals outright Nick Pratto, Nelson Velazquez; Phillies claim Carlos Hernandez

American League way-too-early trade candidates

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The 'MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award winners since 2005' quiz

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / March 3

Royals 26-Year-Old Floated As Trade Candidate Ahead Of 'Make-Or-Break Year'

Hopes are high for the Kansas City Royals in 2025, but not every position projects to be above average. Last season, the Royals allowed MJ Melendez to work through his struggles as the starting left fielder, but he never really improved.

Kansas City Royals News / Just Baseball / March 1

Is This a Make-or-Break Year for MJ Melendez?

MJ Melendez went from a mid-tier prospect in the Kansas City Royals‘ system to a top 50 prospect in all of baseball over the span of about 10 months. Justifiably so, as the catcher launched 41 home runs across two levels in only 124 games back in 2021.

Kansas City Royals News / Just Baseball / February 26

Kansas City Royals Spring Training Storylines to Follow

The Kansas City Royals enter spring training in a situation they haven’t been in since 2016, fresh off a postseason appearance. Spring training provides

Kansas City Royals News / MLB Trade Rumors / July 16

Royals place young OF on injured list

It’s unfortunate timing as he was heating up a bit after an awful first half. He hit .181/.249/.353 through the end of June. He then put up a torrid line of .273/.314/.606 in 35 July plate appearances

Three leading Cy Young candidates in each league at All-Star break

Winners and losers from the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby

Five non-Paul Skenes storylines to watch at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game

One player from every MLB team that deserves more love

The '2024 Major League Baseball All-Stars' quiz

Kansas City Royals News / Fastball on SI / June 16

Kansas City Royals Beat Dodgers as MJ Melendez Hits Historic Grand Slam

The Kansas City Royals have had a tough week, having to play both the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. Kansas City had lost four of those first five games until Saturday night, when they got a 7-2 win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Kansas City Royals News / Fastball on SI / June 6

Kansas City Royals Score Critical Run on MJ Melendez's Acrobatic Slide

Down 3-2 in the top of the sixth, it seemed as if the Kansas City Royals had blown a golden opportunity against the first-place Cleveland Guardians. Center fielder Kyle Isbel was at the plate with one out and men and second and third.

Kansas City Royals News / Field Level Media / April 19, 2024

MJ Melendez's slump-ending effort lifts Royals past Orioles

MJ Melendez homered and drove in four runs and Alec Marsh tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the host Kansas City Royals earned a 9-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.

Kansas City Royals News / Field Level Media / April 9, 2024

MJ Melendez, Royals vie to stay hot in opener vs. Astros

The Kansas City Royals are riding high as they head into Tuesday night's opener of a three-game series against the visiting Houston Astros. The Royals completed their first four-game sweep in nearly three years after brushing aside the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Kansas City Royals News / Yardbarker / July 26, 2023

Kansas City Royals: Stock up, stock down

Here are players who have seen their stock rise or fall amid another disappointing season for the Royals.

Under-the-radar MLB trade-deadline candidates

Ex-teammate made Zack Greinke smile with great walk-up song

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MLB News / Yardbarker / March 15, 2023

Top three catching tandems in MLB

The ability to put a quality backup behind the plate can be a big boost for MLB teams. Here are the teams with the best catching situations heading into the 2023 season.

Exploring the Royals' potential infield competitions

Amid red-hot spring, Bo Bichette appears ready to build off strong 2022 finish

20 MLB players who could be first-time All-Stars in 2023

The '30 or more home runs in 2021' quiz

Kansas City Royals News / Yardbarker / August 17, 2022

Royals' Melendez shows support for injured LLWS player

Royals' MJ Melendez shows support for injured LLWS player on wrist tape

Melendez will sport a message on his wrist tape for Wednesday's game in support of 12-year-old Easton Oliverson, who is in the hospital after falling from a bunk bed at the players' dormitory and fracturing his skull.

The greatest postseason moment for every MLB team

The 'Catchers to hit 30 home runs in a season' quiz