Cristofer Melendez
Cristofer Melendez
Position: RHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 226 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/16/1997
Country: Dominican Republic
Signed: International Free Agent, 2014 (Astros)
How Acquired: Trade (from Padres for cash)
Bonus: $450,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024?
Options Left: 3
Overview
Melendez struggled through three seasons in the Dominican Summer League before Houston gave up on him. The White Sox picked him up and he improved substantially, although he was old for the level by then. In those days, he was running his fastball up to 96, but didn’t hold his velocity well. In 2021, he was throwing in the upper-90s, touching 100. His out pitch is a curve and he also throws a change. San Diego selected him in the minor league phase of the 2018 Rule 5 draft. The Padres immediately sent him to the Pirates for cash in a deal that no doubt was worked out in advance.
2015-18
Melendez spent four years in the DSL. The first three were with Houston, pitching in relief. He got passable results in 2015-16, then struggled badly in 2017, letting opponents reach base at a .407 rate. The Astros released him and the White Sox signed him. In his fourth try in the DSL, he became a starter and got dramatically better. He put up a 1.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9 and 11.9 K/9. After the season, San Diego selected him in the minor league phase of Rule 5 and immediately sent him to the Pirates for cash.
2019-21
The Pirates moved Melendez up by several levels, sending him to Greensboro out of extended spring training in mid-May. Pitching in relief, he had an interesting year, with a poor ERA of 5.13, but good numbers otherwise. That included a K/9 of 14.5. Opponents only hit 203/327/314 against him and his xFIP was 3.18, but somehow — partly due to a very low strand rate of 62.5% — he had the bad ERA. He was hurt quite a bit by the high-offense park at Greensboro.
Melendez didn’t pitch in 2020, then opened the season in Greensboro. After six outings the Pirates moved him up to Altoona. His performance there was a mixed bag, but better than his 4.41 ERA suggests. He had a good K rate and opponents batted only .179 against him. He was hurt by an extremely low 54.7% strand rate. On the other hand, he walked too many and also benefited from a .235 BABIP.
2022-24
Melendez was eligible for minor league free agency after the season and the Pirates didn’t add him to the 40-man roster, but they signed him to a minor league deal for 2022 and 2023. He spent most of 2022 with Indianapolis and continued to miss lots of bats, but the control problems got worse, as he walked eight per nine innings. He mostly had solid results, but had ERAs over 7.00 in August and September. He spent part of that stretch with Altoona, as the Pirates sent him there in early August. Left-handed hitters were a problem, putting up an .878 OPS against him. Right-handed hitters managed only .593.
Melendez seemingly would have gone back to Indianapolis in 2023, but he was placed on the restricted list at the beginning of the season for unknown reasons and stayed there all year. Due to him being on that list, the deal he signed for 2022-23 still ran through 2024. Before the 2024 season, though, the Pirates placed Melendez back on the restricted list. He stayed there until he was activated for the last week of Altoona’s season. It’s difficult to say what that does to his free agency status.
Stats
Transactions
July 7, 2014: Signed by the Houston Astros as an international free agent.
August 25, 2017: Released by the Houston Astros.
April 3, 2018: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Chicago White Sox.
December 13, 2018: Selected by the San Diego Padres from the Chicago White Sox in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
December 13, 2018: Traded by the San Diego Padres to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.