Francisco Mejia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #4 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Signed by the Indians for $350,000, Mejia rose to prominence in 2016 when he engineered a 50-game hit streak at the Class A levels, the longest in the modern era of the minor leagues. In desperate need of bullpen help, the Indians traded Mejia to the Padres for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber at the 2018 trade deadline. Mejia made his first Padres start on Sept. 6 at Cincinnati and homered in his first two at-bats.
  
  Scouting Report: The switch-hitting Mejia possesses elite-hand eye coordination that allows him to project as a plus hitter. He squares balls up in all parts of the strike zone and sometimes even outside of it, producing hard contact gap-to-gap. Mejia gets to his double-digit home run power more righthanded than left, but his premium bat speed makes him a threat from both sides. Mejia's issue is he swings at everything. His ultra aggressiveness led to an 29 strikeout rate and weak contact against pitcher's pitches, an unsustainable approach he'll need to corral. Mejia has a bazaooka for a right arm and the athleticism to be a solid-average catcher, but he often lacks focus, resulting in numerous passed balls. In part because of his lack of reliability, the Indians experimented with Mejia at third base and left field.
  
  The Future: Mejia will start in a timeshare with Austin Hedges behind the plate. Whether he eventually supplants Hedges will depend on how much his plate discipline and defensive focus improve.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 2018
  Mejia's precocious talent has been apparent since the Indians signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2012 and sent him to make his professional debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League the following season. He had an eventful path through the minor leagues that included a historic hitting streak and nearly being included in a blockbuster trade before making his major league debut in September as a 21-year-old. Mejia broke out in 2016 and authored a 50-game hitting streak that is the longest in the modern era of the minor leagues (dating to 1963). Mejia kept hitting in 2017 as he advanced to Double-A Akron. He finished the year in the Arizona Fall League, where he was one of the circuit's leading hitters. Mejia has long been known for his hitting ability and the switch-hitter consistently makes hard contact from both sides of the plate. He has matured as a hitter to use the whole field to hit, instead of the pull-oriented approach he had when he was younger. His bat speed gives him more raw power than his lean, 5-foot-10 frame would suggest, but he more typically drives balls into the gaps than over the fence. He has an aggressive approach and doesn't walk much, but his excellent feel for the barrel means he also doesn't strike out much and is comfortable working behind in the count. Mejia has made strides defensively and has elite arm strength and has become a good receiver. He has gotten comfortable speaking English, a key skill for him to work with his pitchers, and has developed more consistency behind the plate. For all his progress defensively, however, Mejia's bat remains ahead of his glove. Because he isn't far off from being ready for the big leagues offensively and because the Indians have a pair of excellent defensive catchers in Cleveland, Mejia went to the AFL to get experience at third base. He is naturally still learning the position, but he will continue to see action at the hot corner in 2018. Mejia will open 2018 with Triple-A Columbus, and if he continues to hit the way he has throughout his career he will find his way into the big league lineup sometime during the summer. His long-term future remains behind the plate, but his added defensive versatility will help him as he breaks into the major leagues.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 2017
  The Indians challenged Mejia with aggressive assignments at the outset of his career, and he reached full-season ball as a 19-year old in 2015. That season, he was one of just three teenagers serving as an everyday catcher in the Midwest League. He scuffled at the plate against the older competition (hitting .243/.324/.345), and he returned to low Class A Lake County to start 2016. While repeating the level, Mejia broke out. He authored a historic 50-game hitting streak that is the longest in the modern era of the minor leagues (dating to 1963). Mejia's streak, which began in late May and stretched into August, increased his notoriety, as did a promotion to high Class A Lynchburg and an appearance in the Futures Game, where he started behind the plate for the World team. He was also a popular name as the trade deadline approached, and the Indians nearly dealt him to the Brewers in an attempt to land Jonathan Lucroy at the trade deadline, but Lucroy exercised his no-trade clause to block the move. Mejia kept hitting, even with the off-field distractions, and his .342 average ranked sixth in the minors. He also led all qualified Indians minor leaguers in both slugging percentage (.514) and OPS (.896). Even before the streak, Mejia has long been known for his hitting ability. The switch-hitter consistently makes hard contact from both sides of the plate. He is a more productive righthanded hitter and has more power from that side of the plate, but can also do damage as a lefthanded hitter. Like many young hitters, he previously had a more pull-oriented approach at the plate. Part of his maturation as a hitter has been to become better at handling pitches on the outer half of the plate and using the opposite field to hit. His bat speed gives him more raw power than his lean, 5-foot-10 frame would suggest, but he more typically drives balls into the gaps than over the fence. He has an aggressive approach and doesn't walk much, but his excellent feel for the barrel prevents him from striking out often and he is comfortable working down in the count. Like most catchers, he is a below-average runner. Mejia has made strides defensively, but his bat is more advanced than his glove. Mejia has elite arm strength and soft hands, but his setup behind the plate still needs work to allow him to block balls and frame pitches more consistently. He is learning how to call games and is comfortable speaking English, a key skill for him to develop a relationship with his pitchers. Mejia often played second base as an amateur and some believe he could handle that position if he moved out from behind the plate. But he is just 21 and has the tools to become a capable defender with some further refinements. Mejia took a big step forward in 2016, but he will need to continue to improve as he advances to the upper levels of the system. He will likely begin 2017 at Double-A Akron. If he continues to progress, he should be in line to make his major league debut sometime in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #10 prospect in 2016
  The Indians have challenged Mejia with aggressive assignments throughout his career, with the trend beginning when he made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League as a 17-year-old. He has been one of the youngest players at every minor league stop he has made, and he was one of three teenagers serving as an everyday catcher in the Midwest League in 2015. But the precocious catcher has always proven to be up to the task. Mejia has a good feel for hitting, and the switchhitter consistently makes hard contact from both sides of the plate. His bat speed gives him surprising raw power for his size and he's already doing a good job of tapping into it. Like most catchers, he's a below-average runner. Mejia has a rocket arm, but he focused on developing other aspects of his defense in 2015 and made strides. He has also improved his English, a key skill for him to develop a relationship with his pitchers. Mejia still has a lot of work to do, and will have to become more consistent in all phases of the game, but his ceiling as an everyday catcher remains intact. He will advance to high Class A Lynchburg in 2016.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #7 prospect in 2015
  The Indians have been aggressive with Mejia since signing him for $350,000 in 2012, skipping him over the Dominican Summer League in 2013 and sending him to short-season Mahoning Valley in 2014, where he was one of the New York-Penn League's youngest players. He's been up for the challenge, however, handling the demands of being the Scrappers' everyday catcher and cleanup hitter. Mejia idolizes Carlos Santana and frequently draws comparisons with him as a switch-hitting catching prospect in the Indians system. He has a natural feel for hitting and innate bat control, allowing him to drive almost anything. The Indians hope to see him dial back his aggressive approach, for the ease with which he makes contact sometimes works against him. Mejia generates plenty of bat speed and should develop average or better power from both sides. His rocket throwing arm might be his loudest tool, garnering some 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale. Other aspects of his catching are unrefined, with the Indians placing particular emphasis on getting his game-calling and his English up to par. Though he has a compact frame, Mejia runs well for a catcher. Mejia has all kinds of upside, perhaps as much as any player in the organization, but he's also several years away. He should get his first chance to tackle full-season ball in 2015 at low Class A Lake County.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #12 prospect in 2014
  The Indians haven't shied away from skipping their high-profile Latin American prospects over the Dominican Summer League, and Mejia is another example. Cleveland brought him to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2013, and he quickly showed why Cleveland spent $350,000 to sign him. A natural hitter, he already has a good idea at the plate and a quality swing with few moving parts that allows him to stay inside the ball consistently. He has decent raw power, though it shows up more often in batting practice and he focuses on an up-the-middle approach in games. While Mejia has plenty of promise at the plate, he's extremely raw behind it. His greatest strength is a throwing arm that receives a few 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale, but he allowed 11 passed balls in 25 games at catcher in his debut. He often played second base as an amateur and his technique as a catcher needs plenty of development. To his credit, he's embraced the position and doesn't take bad at-bats with him into the field. He shows some leadership qualities and his work ethic won over pitchers despite his struggles. Mejia will stay in extended spring training in 2014 to keep working on his catching before going to the short-season New York-Penn League.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #9 prospect in 2018
  Mejia got off to a slow start during a freezing April in the upper Midwest, but he heated up with the weather. He batted .318/.369/.486 from May through July 17, his last day in the IL before the Indians traded him to the Padres for relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber. A switch-hitter, Mejia showed more power from the left side but overall the ability to hit from both. He gets overaggressive and his pitch selection is questionable, but his gifted hand-eye coordination allows him to make consistent contact. Mejia’s bat is good enough to carry him, which is important because reviews of his catching have gotten progressively worse. He shows a worrying lack of effort in receiving and blocking, and most expect him to move to left field. Mejia is athletic enough to warrant that chance—and his arm grades at the top of the scale—though he may be able to stick behind the plate if he exerts more effort.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #5 prospect in 2017
  Mejia showed standout abilities on both sides of the ball during the first half of the season, but he hit just .220 in the second while his OPS dropped nearly 250 points. At the plate, Mejia shows smooth, quick, balanced line-drive swings from both sides of the plate. He doesn't have standout power, but he has the potential for double-digit home runs when he finishes maturing physically. The Indians had him work on not expanding the strike zone but also wanted to retain his aggressiveness. Scouts viewed Mejia as one of the better defensive catchers in the EL initially, though managers who saw him late said he seemed disengaged and fatigued on defense. He even started one game at third base and will play more there in the Arizona Fall League. Mejia has a well above-average arm that he shows off on pickoff attempts, but he must polish his receiving and blocking technique. Most importantly, he needs to increase his stamina.
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #5 prospect in 2016
  Through a period that included a promotion from low Class A Lake County, a reported trade that would have sent him to the Brewers organization and an illness, Mejia had the mental toughness to compile a 50-game hitting streak. Mejia shrugged off trade rumors and maintained a consistent swing from both sides of the plate. Some scouts give his arm 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale as well. "He's consistent in the cage and in the way he plays the game," Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said. "He made offensive and defensive strides. We've always known he has the hit tool and a plus arm, but he needed to work on how to call a game. He did a great job with that, and he didn't let anything get to him all season." Salem manager Joe Oliver, a former major league catcher, also is a fan of Mejia's. "He's got the best arm I've seen in a long time," Oliver said. "I've only seen him a few games behind the plate, but I'm really impressed with the way he throws. It seems like he handles the pitchers really well, too, and he moves well behind the plate."
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #3 prospect in 2016
  After hitting .243 at Lake County in 2015, Mejia repeated the MWL this season with aplomb. In fact, he was in the middle of his historic 50-game hit streak when the Indians promoted him to high Class A Lynchburg. The switch-hitting Mejia's improvement at the plate stemmed from moving away from a pull-happy, homer-centric approach to letting the ball travel deeper in the hitting zone and using the opposite field. He's still a free-swinger, but he does a better job with pitches on the outer half. He's an above-average hitter with average power presently, and his .347 average would have tied Cedar Rapids' Luis Arraez for the best in the MWL if he had the requisite number of plate appearances. Like most catchers, Mejia is a below-average runner. A plus arm and quick release help him shut down the running game, and he threw out 43 percent of basestealers. He has made strides with blocking balls, where he grades as solid-average, but his receiving, while improved, needs work.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #9 prospect in 2014
  Mejia signed for $350,000 in 2012 then jumped right to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2013, where he had a strong debut. He continued to perform well as one of the youngest players in the NYPL this summer, and he handled an increased workload behind the plate, catching 52 games. Mejia's calling card is his arm, which frequently draws plus-plus grades from evaluators, though he is still working on his accuracy and footwork. His receiving and blocking remain works in progress, but he took a step forward this year, and he has a chance to become a solid defensive catcher as he matures. Mejia is undersized but generates surprising bat speed from both sides of the plate, giving him gap power with a shot to grow into some home run pop in time. He has an innate feel for his barrel, though he hit better from the left side (.789 OPS) than the right side (.590) this summer. His ability to square up balls in or out of the zone sometimes causes him to chase, but he has the hands and savvy to become an impact hitter.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #7 prospect in 2013
  Mejia signed for $350,000 at the start of the 2012 international signing period. The Indians challenged him with an initial assignment in the AZL, skipping him over the DSL, and Mejia proved more than capable. The switch-hitter held his own at the plate, showing good bat speed and raw power for his size, and he ought to develop more over-the-fence power as he grows stronger. He needs to improve his strike-zone discipline, as he drew just five walks all summer. Mejia?s defense stands out foremost among his tools. He has a plus-plus arm and quick feet behind the plate, throwing out 23 percent of basestealers, but like most teenaged catchers he needs to work on improving his receiving skills.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #32 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #20 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #28 prospect in 2017

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Mejia started slowly but got hot once the weather warmed up, batting .328/.386/.505 from May 4 until his trade from the Indians to the Padres on July 19. Mejia remains a potential .300 hitter with double-digit home runs and a lot of doubles as a switch-hitter, an extremely valuable hitter the Padres needed to contend. Defensively he continues to draw mixed reviews behind the plate and played an increasing amount of left field this season, but the Padres plan to send him out as a catcher and will evaluate him closely in El Paso.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record:Mejia's precocious talent has been apparent since the Indians signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2012 and sent him to make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League the following season. He had an eventful path through the minors that included a historic hitting streak and nearly being included in a blockbuster trade before making his major league debut in September 2017 as a 21-year-old. Mejia broke out in 2016 and authored a 50-game hitting streak at two Class A levels that is the longest in the modern era of the minor leagues (dating back to 1963). He kept hitting in 2017 as he advanced to Double-A Akron. He finished the year in the Arizona Fall League, where he was one of the circuit's leading hitters. Scouting Report: Mejia has long been known for his hitting ability, and the switch-hitter consistently makes hard contact from both sides of the plate. He has matured as a hitter to use the whole field to hit, instead of relying on the pull-oriented approach he had when he was younger. His bat speed gives him more raw power than his lean 5-foot-10 frame would suggest, but he more typically drives balls into the gaps than over the fence. He has an aggressive approach and doesn't walk much, but his excellent feel for the barrel means he also doesn't strike out much and is comfortable working behind in the count. Mejia has made strides defensively, has elite arm strength and has become a good receiver. He has gotten comfortable speaking English, a key skill for him to work with his pitchers, and has developed more consistency behind the plate. For all his progress defensively, however, Mejia's bat remains ahead of his glove. Because his bat isn't far off from being ready for the big leagues, and because the Indians have Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez, a pair of excellent defensive catchers, in Cleveland, Mejia went to the AFL to get experience at third base. He is naturally still learning the position but he will continue to see action at the hot corner in 2018. The Future: Mejia will open 2018 at Triple-A Columbus, and if he continues to hit the way he has throughout his career, he will find his way into the big league lineup during the summer. His long-term future remains behind the plate, but his added defensive versatility will help him as he breaks into the majors.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Indians challenged Mejia with aggressive assignments at the outset of his career, and he reached full-season ball as a 19-year old in 2015. That season, he was one of just three teenagers serving as an everyday catcher in the Midwest League. He scuffled at the plate against the older competition (hitting .243/.324/.345), and he returned to low Class A Lake County to start 2016. While repeating the level, Mejia broke out. He authored a historic 50-game hitting streak that is the longest in the modern era of the minor leagues (dating to 1963). Mejia's streak, which began in late May and stretched into August, increased his notoriety, as did a promotion to high Class A Lynchburg and an appearance in the Futures Game, where he started behind the plate for the World team. He was also a popular name as the trade deadline approached, and the Indians nearly dealt him to the Brewers in an attempt to land Jonathan Lucroy at the trade deadline, but Lucroy exercised his no-trade clause to block the move. Mejia kept hitting, even with the off-field distractions, and his .342 average ranked sixth in the minors. He also led all qualified Indians' minor leaguers in both slugging percentage (.514) and OPS (.896). Scouting Report: Even before the streak, Mejia has long been known for his hitting ability. The switch-hitter consistently makes hard contact from both sides of the plate. He is a more productive righthanded hitter and has more power from that side of the plate, but can also do damage as a lefthanded hitter. Like many young hitters, he previously had a more pull-oriented approach at the plate. Part of his maturation as a hitter has been to become better at handling pitches on the outer half of the plate and using the opposite field to hit. His bat speed gives him more raw power than his lean, 5-foot-10 frame would suggest, but he more typically drives balls into the gaps than over the fence. He has an aggressive approach and doesn't walk much, but his excellent feel for the barrel prevents him from striking out often and he is comfortable working down in the count. Like most catchers, he is a below-average runner. Mejia has made strides defensively, but his bat is more advanced than his glove. Mejia has elite arm strength and soft hands, but his setup behind the plate still needs work to allow him to block balls and frame pitches more consistently. He is learning how to call games and is comfortable speaking English, a key skill for him to develop a relationship with his pitchers. Mejia often played second base as an amateur and some believe he could handle that position if he moved out from behind the plate. But he is just 21 and has the tools to become a capable defender with some further refinements. The Future: Mejia took a big step forward in 2016, but he will need to continue to improve as he advances to the upper levels of the system. He will likely begin 2017 at Double-A Akron. If he continues to progress, he should be in line to make his major league debut sometime in 2018.