- Full name Jayden Melendez
- Born
- Profile Ht.: 5'7" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Westminster Christian HS, Miami
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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Melendez is an undersized catcher listed at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. His defensive game is well ahead of his offensive game now, thanks to above-average arm strength and a willingness to throw aggressively behind runners hunting for back picks. He has the potential for above-average defensive ability behind the dish in addition to his strong arm, but there are more questions about how much impact he will provide as a righthanded hitter. He will need to simplify his mechanics at the plate and quiet some of the bigger movements in his swing and he’s also a well below-average runner. Melendez shares some traits with current Vanderbilt catcher CJ Rodriguez out of high school and could raise his stock in a similar way by proving his defense and controlling the zone as a hitter if he makes it to campus at Florida International. Melendez’s older brother is MJ Melendez, a catcher in the Royals system who was drafted in the second round in 2017.
