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MJ Melendez comes through for the Kansas City Royals as Sal Perez goes down with injury

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MJ Melendez comes through for the Kansas City Royals as Sal Perez goes down with injury


MJ

Kansas Metropolis Royals’ MJ Melendez (1) celebrates as he runs residence after hitting a solo residence run through the sixth inning within the second sport of a baseball doubleheader towards the Chicago White Sox Tuesday, Might 17, 2022, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (AP Picture/Charlie Riedel)

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AP

MJ Melendez had already performed in 9 video games for the Kansas Metropolis Royals previous to Tuesday, however the day actually appeared like a “welcome to the large leagues” second as a result of swirl of circumstances and the way in which he obtained thrust right into a outstanding function.

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Melendez caught all 18 innings of the doubleheader cut up towards the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. It wasn’t the plan, but it surely turned the one good choice after Salvador Perez obtained damage within the first sport and was on the injured listing by the point of the second sport.

So Melendez responded by working with beginning pitcher Brady Singer to supply among the finest outings of Singer’s major-league profession, and Melendez additionally hit the primary residence run of his profession within the majors. That homer offered the margin of victory within the second sport.

“It was an awesome feeling,” Melendez stated of the homer. “The largest factor going by way of my head is simply placing us up by two. Brady pitched a heck of a sport, so I simply actually wished to guard that lead for him.”

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With simply hours between the 2 video games, reinforcements couldn’t arrive in time to take the burden of catching the second sport off of Melendez’s plate.

Melendez turned the third Royals participant within the final 40 years to start out at catcher in each video games of a doubleheader. He joined Henry Mercedes (Aug. 21, 1995) and Don Slaught (Sept. 24, 1984) in that regard.

Melendez smacked a two-out, two-strike slider from left-hander Tanner Banks 425 toes within the sixth inning for his first homer. He has now hit safely in seven of his 9 profession begins. The house run was his second profession extra-base hit.

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“Simply attempting to increase the inning, looking for a option to get on base,” Melendez stated of his method. “I obtained down 0-2 fairly rapidly, however I simply wished to battle. See if I may stroll. Hit the ball the opposite manner. Get on base someway, someway.”

If that wasn’t sufficient, Melendez additionally was on the receiving finish of a throw to the plate from left fielder Andrew Benintendi within the eighth inning that stopped the White Sox from scoring the tying run.

On the play, the runner Josh Harrison made contact with Melendez because the throw carried Melendez into his path. Melendez’s masks got here flying off and Melendez spun to the bottom, however he made the tag and held on for the inning-ending out.

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“A little bit show of the ability when he didn’t even actually get into it,” Royals supervisor Mike Matheny stated of Melendez’s homer. “That’s wonderful on this ballpark and the place he went to look at the ball carry for him.

“Then the play on the plate, that’s a throwback play. A superb play by Benny and MJ simply toughening up and staying in there. I imply, that’s stuff you speak about enjoying wiffle ball within the yard. A one-run sport and that’s the tying run late and also you’ve obtained to make the play.”

Filling huge footwear

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Melendez has praised Perez for serving to him regulate to each side of the large leagues each as a catcher and a hitter.

Perez is a five-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time All-Star behind the plate. He began final 12 months’s All-Star Sport for the American League.

“He’s a wise child,” Perez stated of Melendez. “He all the time asks me questions. I’m going to be right here to assist him. I’m going to journey with the crew. I do know it’s solely 10 days. They’ll give me an opportunity to go together with the crew and be within the conferences and attempt to assist. He’s an awesome child, an awesome participant. He’s going to be wonderful.”

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Melendez, who was added to the 40-man roster this winter, moved as much as the No. 42 general prospect within the minors per the preseason Baseball America rankings. Final season, he slashed .288/.386/.625 and launched 41 residence runs in 123 video games between Double-A and Triple-A.

“It’s actually unhappy to see Sal go down, but it surely’s encouraging to listen to that he’s not going to be out lengthy,” Royals heart fielder Michael A. Taylor stated. “Clearly, he’s an enormous a part of our crew. MJ stepped up huge. Catching two video games in a row like that’s not simple. Then to do what he did on the plate was nice. Then additionally the way in which he dealt with Singer. He referred to as sport, caught sport after which got here up with an enormous residence run. That was an all-around nice sport for him.”

Melendez has additionally been extremely regarded for his defensive capacity behind the plate, and he’s obtained an amazing throwing arm.

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“Clearly, all people is aware of what he can do with the bat,” Benintendi stated of Melendez. “And he can catch too, so it’s an enormous function to fill. He clearly is aware of that we’re all behind him. We’ll see what occurs. We belief him again there and he has proven he can do it.”

Associated tales from Kansas Metropolis Star

Lynn Worthy covers the Kansas Metropolis Royals and Main League Baseball for The Star. A local of the Northeast, he’s lined highschool, collegiate {and professional} sports activities for The Lowell Solar, Binghamton Press & Solar-Bulletin, Allentown Morning Name and The Salt Lake Tribune. He’s gained awards for sports activities options and sports activities columns.

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Law enforcement investigating crash northeast of Emporia on Kansas Turnpike

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Law enforcement investigating crash northeast of Emporia on Kansas Turnpike


LYON COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) – Law enforcement is investigating a crash located northeast of Emporia on the Kansas Turnpike.

KVOE officials said the incident was reported as an injury crash around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 at Kansas Turnpike mile marker 134 southbound, or seven miles northeast of the Emporia tollgate and two miles northeast of the Emporia service exit.

Kansas Highway Patrol, Emporia/Lyon County EMS and a medical helicopter responded to the scene.

KVOE said crash details are pending. There is no confirmation on whether anybody was hospitalized.

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KVOE said the southbound traffic is being detoured from the Admire-Council Grove exit, or Turnpike mile marker 147, west on US-56 Highway to Admire. The official detour goes south on K-99 to Burlingame Rd. and into Emporia.

Check wibw.com for more information as it becomes available.



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Former Kansas State, Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez signs with new NFL team

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Former Kansas State, Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez signs with new NFL team


The New York Jets announced they signed former Kansas State and Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez, according to a release.

Corresponding with the move, cornerback Kendall Sheffield was also signed to the training camp roster. QB Ben Bryant and CB Nehemiah Shelton were released.

Martinez most recently played with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL, earning MVP honors. He passed for 1,749 yards, 15 touchdowns and added 528 rushing yards.

Martinez went undrafted in 2023 and was signed by the Detroit Lions. Eventually, Detroit waived him last August, paving way for his UFL stint.

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While in college, Martinez played five seasons, four at Nebraska and one at Kansas State (2022). Over the course of his career, Martinez threw for 9,752 yards, 51 touchdowns, 31 interceptions, a 63.6% completion percentage, 2,982 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns.

As a member of the Class of 2018, Martinez was a four-star recruit out of Fresno (Calif.) Clovis West, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 22 overall prospect in the state, the No. 13 quarterback in the class and the No. 150 overall prospect in the class.

Adrian Martinez signs with New York Jets

Speaking with HuskerOnline earlier this year, Martinez opened up about his time away from the NFL. He never wavered.

“That thought never crossed my mind,” Martinez said when asked he thought of walking away from football. “It was always, ‘I need to find the right opportunity.’ I know the kind of player that I am right now is an NFL-caliber quarterback. I still have that belief. It really was about: How can I get myself back to getting that right opportunity and making sure I make the most of it?”

Martinez is the latest quarterback on the roster headlined by the return of Aaron Rodgers. The latter tore his Achilles tendon on the fourth play of the 2023 season.

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Now that he’s back, there are bigger expectations for the Jets. Behind him is veteran Tyrod Taylor, followed by rookie and former Florida State star Jordan Travis.

It could be an uphill climb for Martinez to make the roster, but if his play is any indication, he’ll certainly have a shot to make the 53-man roster this fall. Training camp and preseason games will be the litmus test.

If anything, Martinez’s latest opportunity could be a way to audition for another team when it’s all said and done.



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Cubs get shut out with only 4 hits in Kansas City

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Cubs get shut out with only 4 hits in Kansas City


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer that highlighted a six-run fifth inning and Kansas City beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 Friday night in front of the Royals’ second-largest crowd of the season.

Friday night’s attendance of 36,351 at Kauffman Stadium was topped only by the 38,775 on opening day.

The Royals, in third place in the AL Central behind Cleveland and Minnesota, moved 10 games over .500 at 57-47 and eclipsed last season’s win total.

Brady Singer (7-6) was nearly flawless, allowing just two hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking two. The 27-year-old right-hander combined with Will Smith and Chris Stratton to limit the Cubs to four hits.

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Kyle Hendricks (2-9) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings in the loss.

The fifth inning was key for both pitchers.

Singer hit Mike Tauchman with a pitch leading off the fifth before Dansby Swanson’s soft liner sent Tauchman to third. Swanson went to second on the throw to third. But Singer got Miles Mastrobuoni to ground out to second. Miguel Amaya hit a flyout to center, and Kyle Isbel threw out Tauchman at the plate.

The Royals unloaded on Hendricks in their half of the inning. With two outs, Garrett Hampson had a bloop hit to right, and Kyle Isbel followed with a single through the hole at short. Isbel stole second before Adam Frazier drove in both runs with another blooper to right. Bobby Witt Jr. then singled and Vinnie Pasquantino’s single drove in Frazier. Perez then launched a 429-foot line drive homer down the left-field line to break open the game.

TRANSACTIONS:

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Cubs: C Tomas Nido was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 25, with a right knee sprain. … C Christian Bethancourt was selected from Triple-A Iowa… P Ben Brown was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

TRAINING ROOM:

Royals: OF MJ Melendez began a rehab assignment in Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Thursday night. He went 0 for 3 with a sacrifice fly and a run. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said it’s possible that Melendez could join the team this weekend. He’s been on the injured list since July 16, retroactive to July 15, with a sprained left ankle.

UP NEXT:

The Cubs will send LHP Shota Imanaga (8-2, 2.86 ERA) against Royals’ RHP Seth Lugo (12-4, 2.38 ERA) in the second game of the three-game series Saturday.

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