Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CLE | C | 40 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Joe Drake
Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA, MIL
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Average frame with a thick lower half. Round butt and big thighs. Upper body has room for a little weight in the chest, shoulders and arms. Has that catcher build, hard to see this body profiling anywhere else given the lack of overall athleticism. Quick and agile despite limited top end speed. Outweighs the listed 150 pounds.
Hit: Sets up with torso upright and moderate knee bend. Balanced stance with hands nose-high at the back shoulder, bat angled over shoulder. Loads with subtle kick that and slight coil. Hands drift back a few inches. Relatively flat swing path. Setup and pre-swing actions have quieted since being moved to Cleveland. Average patience and approach. Whiffs at the top of the zone. Knows how to work a count to get a pitch he likes. Average bat speed. Has the makings of a fringe-average hit tool that could get to average. Grade: 45
Power: Strong lower half but the frame doesn't ooze power. Likely a pull-power only guy at peak with average bat speed and fringe-average raw. Gap power, but too slow to stretch anything for extra bases. Frame isn't projectable, so what you see is likely what you get for pop. Flat swing path will limit power in games. Grade: 40
Field: Catcher. Has used both squat and one knee receiving styles. Looks comfortable behind the plate. Soft glove; easy receiver. Mobile behind the plate with quick reactions. Solid blocker. Whole package appears to be trending toward an above-average receiver. Grade: 55
Arm: Very limited looks. Good zip with little effort. Reported to be above average. May change with additional film/looks. Grade: 55
Run: Slow starter out of the box who gets somewhere between fringe and below-average underway. Catcher speed. Clocked a 4.42 H-1st. Below average speed for now but will have to watch conditioning to maintain it. Grade: 40
Overall: Glove-first catcher lauded for his defense. Melendez has drawn positive reviews for his ability to handle a staff for his age and looks very comfortable behind the plate. Defensively, the whole package looks to be above-average or better as long as his conditioning stays in check. The bat is contact over power right now with very limited projection for additional pop. How much contact he makes will determine whether he can stick in the majors as a backup or is more of a 3rd catcher/emergency call-up type. His limited offensive profile would be even more vulnerable with a move to an electronic strike zone.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench / Platoon / Utility
Risk: High
