Of the group of young Royals hitters who made their debuts over the last few years, none has perhaps been as tantalizing and as frustrating to watch as MJ Melendez. This has been true at the plate, where he’s shown rare power and plate discipline alongside contact issues and long slumps. It’s also been true on defense, where Melendez’s clear athleticism has not translated to good defensive numbers anywhere on the diamond.
Melendez was drafted as a catcher, spent nearly all of his minor league career as a catcher, and mostly played catcher in his debut season of 2022.