Ivan
Melendez

2022 MLB Draft: The 6-foot-3, 225-pound right handed hitter had more walks (52) than strikeouts (48) this season to go along with his 70-grade raw power. When he's in sync and on-time he's not just a pull-happy slugger. The big man has a sweet swing, can use all fields and has the ability to extend at-bats. A converted third baseman, Melendez is a serviceable defender with average range at first base. His once plus arm strength, before a 2021 wrist injury at the CWS, now grades closer to average. Regardless of his age (22), hitters that combine average (.396) and ISO (.492) with his K rate (15.7%) don't last long in the draft and neither will he. Look for Melendez to hear his name called in the second round this July.

After struggling down the stretch, especially during the 2021 Big 12 tournament and dropping in last year's draft to the 16th round, Melendez bet on himself and returned to the Forty Acres this season. Now a fourth-year junior, he entered last weekend's series against Oklahoma tied for 1st in the country with 13 HR. Although he struggled mightily at the plate (1-for-9 with 7 strikeouts) in the series, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound right handed hitter still has more walks (29) than strikeouts (27) this season to go along with his 70-grade raw power. When he's in sync and on-time he's not just a pull-happy slugger. The big man has a sweet swing, can use all fields and has the ability to extend at-bats. A converted third baseman, Melendez is an adequate defender with average range at first base. His once plus arm strength, before a 2021 wrist injury at the CWS, now grades closer to average. Regardless of his age (4th year junior), hitters that combine average (.387) and ISO (.469) with his K rate (18.8%) don't last long in the draft and neither will he. Look for Melendez to hear his name called during the early rounds on Day Two this July.