Melky Mesa

Melky Mesa
Mesa batting for the Trenton Thunder in 2012
Outfielder
Born: (1987-01-31) January 31, 1987
Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 22, 2012, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
July 31, 2013, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Batting average.400
Home runs0
Runs batted in2
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Melquisedec "Melky" Mesa (born January 31, 1987) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees.

Playing career

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees signed Mesa as an international free agent in 2003.[1] He played in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League (GCL) for the GCL Yankees in 2007,[2] for the Staten Island Yankees of the Low-A New York–Penn League in 2008,[3] and the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single-A South Atlantic League (SAL) in 2009. He was named to the SAL All-Star Game, and participated in the league's Home Run Derby that year.[4]

In 2010, Mesa played for the Tampa Yankees of the High-A Florida State League and was named the league's Player of the Year.[1] The Yankees added Mesa to their 40-man roster on November 2, 2010, to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[5]

The Yankees first promoted Mesa to the major leagues on September 10, 2012.[6] Mesa made his major league debut on September 22, 2012, against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the 14th inning as a pinch runner with the score tied 9–9. Derek Jeter bunted him to second base, and one batter later, Alex Rodriguez hit a single up the middle which should have brought Mesa home, but Mesa stumbled as he rounded third base and missed the bag. This forced him to backtrack, preventing him from scoring the winning run in his first major league game.[7] He recorded his first major league hit, an RBI single, on October 1 against Boston Red Sox pitcher Andrew Bailey.

Mesa was named the International League Player of the Week for the week ending August 11, 2013.[8]

Mesa was released by the Yankees on September 1, 2013.[9]

Kansas City Royals

Mesa signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals on December 28, 2013, and played 23 games for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.

Toronto Blue Jays

On May 26, 2014, Mesa was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with P. J. Walters in exchange for cash considerations.[10] Mesa was assigned to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on May 27, then sent to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on June 12. He re-signed with the Blue Jays in January 2015. On January 12, 2015 he was assigned to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. On April 30, 2015 he was promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. On May 30, 2015 he was demoted back to New Hampshire.[11] He elected free agency on November 7, 2015[12] and re-signed shortly afterwards.[13]

Mesa split the 2016 campaign between New Hampshire and Buffalo, accumulating a .241/.299/.372 batting line with five home runs, 22 RBI, and five stolen bases across 69 games. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.[14]

Saraperos de Saltillo

On July 7, 2017, Mesa signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. In 2 games for the team, he went 0-for-7. Mesa was released by Saltillo on July 11.

York Revolution

On February 16, 2018, Mesa signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 100 appearances for York, he hit .337/.380/.577 with 20 home runs and 89 RBI. Following the season, Mesa was named York's team MVP for the year.[15] He re-signed with team for the 2019 season, playing in 113 games and hitting .298/.326/.500 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI.[16] Mesa became a free agent following the season.

On February 11, 2020, Mesa re-signed with the Revolution, but did not play in a game due to the cancellation of the Atlantic League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] On March 23, 2021, Mesa re-signed with the Revolution. In 92 games for York, he slashed .330/.388/.574 with 18 home runs and 79 RBI.[18] Mesa became a free agent following the season.

On February 15, 2022, Mesa again re-signed with York for the 2022 season.[19] In 106 appearances for York, he batted .272/.344/.449 with 16 home runs and 77 RBI.[20] Mesa became a free agent following the season.

Coaching career

On February 7, 2025, the Philadelphia Phillies hired Mesa as the hitting development coach for the Dominican Summer League Phillies.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Day 17: Melky Mesa". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "Yankees, down 4-1, rally past Twins, 6-4". Sarasota Herald Tribune. August 29, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  3. ^ Flores, Hilton (June 18, 2008). "Good Morning Staten Island". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  4. ^ "Mesa, Venditte lead RiverDogs All-Stars". The Post and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. June 23, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  5. ^ "Mesa added to 40-man roster". The Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  6. ^ Bradley, Jeff (September 10, 2012). "Mark Teixeira to miss next 10-14 days for Yankees with reinjured calf". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  7. ^ Bradley, Ben (September 23, 2012). "Yankees win marathon 14-inning game, 10-9 over Athletics to hold on to sole possession of first". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  8. ^ Parker, John (August 12, 2013). "Offensive Players of the Week For the week ending Aug. 11". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  9. ^ "Yankees expand roster, add INF Adams and RHP Betances, cut OF Mesa". The Denver Post. Associated Press. September 1, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  10. ^ Polishuk, Mark (May 26, 2014). "Blue Jays Acquire P. J. Walters, Melky Mesa". Mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Eddy, Matt (January 11, 2015). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8". Baseballamerica.com.
  12. ^ "International League Transactions". Minor League Baseball. p. November 2015. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Eddy, Matt (December 1, 2015). "Minor League Transactions: Nov. 21-27". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  14. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  15. ^ "Revolution announces first three player signings, including 2018 team MVP Melky Mesa". fox43.com. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  16. ^ "One of top hitters in York Revolution history will be back for third season with team". yorkdispatch.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  17. ^ "Atlantic League scraps full 2020 season; teams free to set own schedules". ballparkdigest.com. June 19, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  18. ^ "The Shark & Ace Return!". yorkrevolution.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "Revs Chomp into Off-Season To-Do List, Bring Back Another Pair of Award-Winning Fan Favorites". Oursportscentral.com. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "Revs Name Players Of The Year". yorkrevolution.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  21. ^ "x.com".