Cristian Mena

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #11 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
  
  Adjusted Grade: 35
  
  Track Record: Mena, who signed for $250,000 in 2019, rocketed through the White Sox system, then was traded to the Diamondbacks for outfielder Dominic Fletcher in February 2024. He has contributed in the majors in each of his two seasons with the Diamondbacks but finished on the injured list each time, first with a forearm strain in 2024, then a shoulder strain in 2025.
  
  Scouting Report: Mena’s velocity ticked up again in 2025, jumping about 1.5 mph from the previous year on both his four-seam (average 94.4 mph) and two-seam (93.6 mph). He uses his sinker more against righties and his four-seam to lefties, but the sinker tends to play better with his high release point. His hard, downer curveball is his best pitch, eliciting whiffs at a big 46.6% rate. He became more consistent with his sweepy slider and racked up whiffs (46%) on it, as well. His changeup rounds out his arsenal. He has had some control issues in the past but threw more strikes in 2025. He was an innings-eater, particularly considering his age, in the White Sox system, but durability issues the past two seasons raise concerns.
  
  The Future: Depending on how the offseason unfolds for the Diamondbacks, they could enter spring training with a job available in their starting rotation. If they do, Mena figures to be in the mix for it. Otherwise, he figures to return to Triple-A Reno where he would be a top candidate once a need arose, assuming he can stay off the IL.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #14 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox for $250,000 in 2019 but the pandemic delayed his debut to 2021. He has since more than made up for the lost time. He rocketed through Chicago’s system, reaching Triple-A at 20 years old in 2023. He was traded shortly before spring training in February 2024 to the Diamondbacks in exchange for outfielder Dominic Fletcher. Mena posted solid results in hitter-friendly Triple-A Reno, earning his big league debut in July, but made only one start in the majors and three more in the minors before his season ended early due to a right forearm strain.
  
  Scouting Report: Mena added a tick of velocity last year to his 93 mph fastball, but the pitch was hit hard in Triple-A, which was perhaps as much about pitch usage—i.e. being too predictable—as pitch quality. He also incorporated a sinker and used it more as the season progressed. His curveball is his best weapon, a downer breaking ball he throws as hard as 87-88 mph. He also throws a sweepy slider and a changeup. He has a starter’s delivery and an aggressive, attacking mentality but has to cut down on walks.
  
  The Future: Mena has a deep enough repertoire and enough pitchability to be a back-of-the-rotation starter in the short term. If he can find a way to get his fastball to play better, whether it’s with more velocity or movement or better usage, he could grow into more than that.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #12 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox in 2019 for $250,000, but because of the pandemic did not make his professional debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League until 2021. He has since moved rapidly through the system, spending most of his age-20 season at Double-A Birmingham in 2023 before moving up to Triple-A Charlotte for four starts. He has struck out more than a batter per inning at every assignment in his career, and his 136 strikeouts ranked fourth in the Southern League in 2023. Mena continued missing bats at Triple-A, indicating his bat-missing stuff was not solely a product of the pre-tacked ball used in the SL in the first half.
  
  Scouting Report: Mena thrives with a combination of fastball, curveball and slider, with his heater sitting at 92 mph and touching 95 with riding life. He has feel for the pitch and gets swings-and-misses up in the zone. A plus 12-to-6 curveball with gloveside life has been his bread-and-butter pitch--and probably an overused one early in his career--but now complements it with a slider added to his repertoire in 2022. Mena’s 80-85 mph curveball has 11-to-5 shape and more depth than his slider. He used his slider more than his curveball in 2023, with the pitch averaging 84 mph and touching 87 with more horizontal movement. He’s gone back and forth between his slider being a sweeper and a smaller gyro shape. He needs to be more consistent with the pitch. Mena’s average changeup is too hard at 88-90 mph, but he has good feel for it. Mena consistently shows confidence and good mound presence.
  
  The Future: Mena will return to Triple-A Charlotte in 2024 and could make his major league debut while still just 21 years old. With a complete package of pitches and his desire for continual improvement, he should meet the projection of a No. 4 starter before long.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #6 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox for $250,000 during the 2019 international signing period, but his pro debut was delayed until 2021 by the pandemic. He impressed observers in the Arizona Complex League that season, paving the way for a breakthrough 2022. No other White Sox minor league pitcher has taken as big of a jump forward as Mena, who started the year at Low-A Kannapolis and finished in Double-A as part of the organization's Project Birmingham initiative to provide personalized instruction to its brightest prospects. Mena was one of five teenage pitchers to log at least 100 innings in 2022. His 3.80 ERA and strikeout rate of 29% were bettered only by the Phillies' Andrew Painter, the BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
  
  Scouting Report: Mena has added 40 pounds to his lanky 6-foot-2 frame since signing and increased the zip on his fastball. His heater ranges from 90-96 mph and sits 92-94 with good life. He has feel for the pitch and gets swings and misses up in the zone. His best offspeed pitch is a potentially plus curveball that he uses more than his fastball. His curve typically sits in the low 80s but can reach a few ticks higher. It shows 11-to-5 shape. During the 2022 season, Mena added a slider in the 83-86 mph range with sharpness and depth. It projects as at least a solid-average pitch and could trend up when he adds enough velocity to get more separation from his curveball. Mena is being encouraged to increase the usage of his average 87 mph changeup, which he throws with good arm speed and splitter-type break. His high three-quarters delivery is clean and repeatable, but he overthrows at times and comes off the ball.
  
  The Future: There is still a lot of growth ahead for Mena, but he has a complete package of pitches that he throws for strikes and a drive to improve. He'll head back to Double-A Birmingham to start 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #20 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox for $250,000 during the 2019 international signing period, finally making his pro debut in the 2021 Arizona Complex League. His projectable frame and mature demeanor marked him as one of more intriguing pitchers on the Rookie-level circuit.
  
  Scouting Report: With a good feel for throwing strikes, Mena commands all three of his pitches, with his go-to offering a four-seam fastball sitting 91-93 mph, running it up to 95 mph at its peak. With plenty of room on his frame to add strength, his fastball velocity is expected to creep upward as he matures physically. His 78-81 mph curveball has 11-to-5 shape but will get slurvy at times. At its best, he adds more depth, getting closer to true 12-to-6 break. He mixes in a mid-80s changeup that performs inconsistently and is often shelved for long stretches. Mena uses an easy, athletic delivery, although he tends to get a little crossbody at times, affecting the shape of his pitches. Observers noted that the components of Mena’s game were better than the results he had in Arizona.
  
  The Future: Mena will be just 19 next season, so more time at the White Sox complex may be in order. But with the maturity he showed in his first season stateside, there’s a good chance he gets to Low-A before the end of the summer.
  

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox for $250,000 during the 2019 international signing period, but his pro debut was delayed until 2021 by the pandemic. He impressed observers in the Arizona Complex League that season, paving the way for a breakthrough 2022. No other White Sox minor league pitcher has taken as big of a jump forward as Mena, who started the year at Low-A Kannapolis and finished in Double-A as part of the organization's Project Birmingham initiative to provide personalized instruction to its brightest prospects. Mena was one of five teenage pitchers to log at least 100 innings in 2022. His 3.80 ERA and strikeout rate of 29% were bettered only by the Phillies' Andrew Painter, the BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
  
  Scouting Report: Mena has added 40 pounds to his lanky 6-foot-2 frame since signing and increased the zip on his fastball. His heater ranges from 90-96 mph and sits 92-94 with good life. He has feel for the pitch and gets swings and misses up in the zone. His best offspeed pitch is a potentially plus curveball that he uses more than his fastball. His curve typically sits in the low 80s but can reach a few ticks higher. It shows 11-to-5 shape. During the 2022 season, Mena added a slider in the 83-86 mph range with sharpness and depth. It projects as at least a solid-average pitch and could trend up when he adds enough velocity to get more separation from his curveball. Mena is being encouraged to increase the usage of his average 87 mph changeup, which he throws with good arm speed and splitter-type break. His high three-quarters delivery is clean and repeatable, but he overthrows at times and comes off the ball.
  
  The Future: There is still a lot of growth ahead for Mena, but he has a complete package of pitches that he throws for strikes and a drive to improve. He'll head back to Double-A Birmingham to start 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox for $250,000 during the 2019 international signing period, but his pro debut was delayed until 2021 by the pandemic. He impressed observers in the Arizona Complex League that season, paving the way for a breakthrough 2022. No other White Sox minor league pitcher has taken as big of a jump forward as Mena, who started the year at Low-A Kannapolis and finished in Double-A as part of the organization's Project Birmingham initiative to provide personalized instruction to its brightest prospects. Mena was one of five teenage pitchers to log at least 100 innings in 2022. His 3.80 ERA and strikeout rate of 29% were bettered only by the Phillies' Andrew Painter, the BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
  
  Scouting Report: Mena has added 40 pounds to his lanky 6-foot-2 frame since signing and increased the zip on his fastball. His heater ranges from 90-96 mph and sits 92-94 with good life. He has feel for the pitch and gets swings and misses up in the zone. His best offspeed pitch is a potentially plus curveball that he uses more than his fastball. His curve typically sits in the low 80s but can reach a few ticks higher. It shows 11-to-5 shape. During the 2022 season, Mena added a slider in the 83-86 mph range with sharpness and depth. It projects as at least a solid-average pitch and could trend up when he adds enough velocity to get more separation from his curveball. Mena is being encouraged to increase the usage of his average 87 mph changeup, which he throws with good arm speed and splitter-type break. His high three-quarters delivery is clean and repeatable, but he overthrows at times and comes off the ball.
  
  The Future: There is still a lot of growth ahead for Mena, but he has a complete package of pitches that he throws for strikes and a drive to improve. He'll head back to Double-A Birmingham to start 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  May Update: Mena is thriving in his first full-season assignment in Low-A at just 19, showing poise beyond his years, with a live arm and improved shape on his fastball.
  
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox for $250,000 during the 2019 international signing period, finally making his pro debut in the 2021 Arizona Complex League. His projectable frame and mature demeanor marked him as one of more intriguing pitchers on the Rookie-level circuit.
  
  Scouting Report: With a good feel for throwing strikes, Mena commands all three of his pitches, with his go-to offering a four-seam fastball sitting 91-93 mph, running it up to 95 mph at its peak. With plenty of room on his frame to add strength, his fastball velocity is expected to creep upward as he matures physically. His 78-81 mph curveball has 11-to-5 shape but will get slurvy at times. At its best, he adds more depth, getting closer to true 12-to-6 break. He mixes in a mid-80s changeup that performs inconsistently and is often shelved for long stretches. Mena uses an easy, athletic delivery, although he tends to get a little crossbody at times, affecting the shape of his pitches. Observers noted that the components of Mena&#39 s game were better than the results he had in Arizona.
  
  The Future: Mena will be just 19 next season, so more time at the White Sox complex may be in order. But with the maturity he showed in his first season stateside, there&#39 s a good chance he gets to Low-A before the end of the summer.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Mena signed with the White Sox for $250,000 during the 2019 international signing period, finally making his pro debut in the 2021 Arizona Complex League. His projectable frame and mature demeanor marked him as one of more intriguing pitchers on the Rookie-level circuit.
  
  Scouting Report: With a good feel for throwing strikes, Mena commands all three of his pitches, with his go-to offering a four-seam fastball sitting 91-93 mph, running it up to 95 mph at its peak. With plenty of room on his frame to add strength, his fastball velocity is expected to creep upward as he matures physically. His 78-81 mph curveball has 11-to-5 shape but will get slurvy at times. At its best, he adds more depth, getting closer to true 12-to-6 break. He mixes in a mid-80s changeup that performs inconsistently and is often shelved for long stretches. Mena uses an easy, athletic delivery, although he tends to get a little crossbody at times, affecting the shape of his pitches. Observers noted that the components of Mena’s game were better than the results he had in Arizona.
  
  The Future: Mena will be just 19 next season, so more time at the White Sox complex may be in order. But with the maturity he showed in his first season stateside, there’s a good chance he gets to Low-A before the end of the summer.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Mena was signed out of the Dominican Republic as part of the 2019 international class and subsequently had his first crack at a pro debut scuttled by the pandemic. He skipped over the Dominican Summer League to debut stateside this year and has intermittently impressed evaluators with a solid frame, low-90s fastball and feel to spin the ball. He tends to get a little cross-body in his delivery, which affects his consistency, but the White Sox are intrigued by what they've seen.