Growing up in the PNW, players oftentimes have their eyes set on top schools such as Oregon State University, University of Oregon or University of Washington. However, top-ranked 2027 Joe Mendazona Jr. is taking a different path - heading to Texas Christian University.

“When I was younger, my dreams were to obviously go play D1 baseball and then be a big leaguer,” Mendazona Jr. said.

At 12 years old, Mendazona Jr. struggled on the field, and he didn’t really know what was coming. Now, after some years developing with the Portland Baseball Club and entering his junior year of high school, it is a totally different ballgame. Mendazona Jr. is eager to start his journey at TCU.

“I'm fortunate enough I get to go get a great education and then during that time I get to go play baseball with a bunch of friends and a great coaching staff in front of 10,000 people,” Mendazona Jr. said.

Historically, when people hear about a catcher from Oregon who gains national attention, they think of Adley Rutschman. Mendazona Jr. has been compared to the Baltimore Orioles star regularly, and he embraces it.

The similarities are there: the swing from the left side, the set-up, and defensive skill as a catcher.

“I've been sent a whole row of pictures of both of us right next to each other throughout our whole progression, so it's definitely a good comparison,” Mendazona Jr. said.

Mendazona Jr.’s key to success has been sticking to his process. The Central High School athlete has spent the past three to four years training through the winter, earning spots in Prep Baseball's rankings and recently climbing up to the number one spot. With his newfound success, he doesn’t really feel any sense of pressure.

Mendazona Jr. attended Prep Baseball's invite-only PNW State Games event this summer, where he showcased his development and enjoyed his experience.

“We were fortunate to have the Chicago White Sox Northwest Area Scout as one of our coaches, and he actually ended up helping me with some things, and that was really good to have him there for the whole team in general."

Throughout Mendazona Jr.’s commitment process, he had narrowed down his finalists to four schools by the end of the summer. The catcher wants to play early, and he felt that TCU gave him the best chance for him to get out on the field. When it came down to it, the chance to play early and the coaching staff were what locked him in as a Horned Frog.

“If I want to go to the draft as a sophomore, since I'm a little older, I need to be playing early, so I want to be playing early and I wanna be playing for the right coaching staff,” Mendazona Jr. said.

Nolan Traeger is the singular catcher currently returning on the 2026 TCU baseball roster as a sophomore. Two catchers are also committed to TCU out of the 2025 and 2026 classes.

“I'd say TCU had the best situation for me playing early and my favorite coaching staff I’ve met...It’s definitely hard to leave the Northwest, and it was a really hard decision to make,” Mendazona Jr. said.

#uncommitted '27 C Joe Mendazona Jr. (Central) had a strong game two at the plate

Recorded a pair of hard hits and drove in a run. 6'3 prospect showed plate coverage with a direct path to contact, letting his size and bat speed generate power. Plus arm strength from behind the… pic.twitter.com/I81elBnMWw

— Prep Baseball Oregon (@PrepBaseballOR) August 17, 2025

Pending arrival at TCU, Mendazona Jr. is focused on his last two years of high school. Mendazona Jr. has lofty goals for his junior year, shooting for an average of .630 with seven or more home runs. His senior year goals are even bigger still.

“For my senior year, it'd probably be like .670 or more and then eight or more home runs, obviously with as high of a hard hit percentage as possible because that matters most to me, just hitting the ball hard,” Mendazona Jr. said.

Soon will be the days that he is wearing purple, but for now, Mendazona Jr.’s process is continuing to improve on a talented Central High School side.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Holiday Hitters: Salem	OR	12/06	The Farm - Salem, OR
Corvallis Preseason ID	OR	02/14	Oregon State University - Corvallis, OR
Pacific Northwest Preseason All-State (Invite-Only)	OR	02/16	NW Sports Hub - Centralia, WA
Pacific Northwest Preseason ID	OR	02/17	NW Sports Hub - Centralia, WA
Eugene Preseason ID	OR	03/01	University of Oregon, PK Park - Eugene, OR

RELATED CONTENT