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

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.

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.”

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.

“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.

“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

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.”

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.

“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.”