Ivan Melendez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #4 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Melendez transferred to Texas after two seasons at Odessa Junior College and quickly became one of the better hitters in the Big 12 Conference. A DH only his first year with the Longhorns in 2021, he was drafted by the Marlins in the 16th round but did not sign. Melendez returned to Texas and had a monster 2022 season, becoming the first Golden Spikes Award winner in program history. He popped 32 home runs to set a since-broken BBCOR record to earn BA College Player of the Year honors, a rare feat for a 22-year-old senior first baseman. Melendez’s pro debut was unimpressive and he started slowly in 2023, but he eventually found his swing and led the organization with 30 homers while showing better than expected defense at third base.
  
  Scouting Report: Melendez’s calling card is his massive power. He generates top-end exit velocities in the 114 mph range and can hit the ball out to all fields. The righthanded batter does not hit many ground balls, but his swing can get steep and he can get beat by fastballs, particularly versus righthanders at the top of the zone. It led to a highly alarming 34% strikeout rate, but he is harder to write off because he also hit for a decent .272 average, suggesting there is more feel to hit than most all-or-nothing sluggers. Melendez has a strong arm and surprisingly good hands at third base, and while his instincts and game clock are fine, his range and quickness limit him to being average at best there. He has a chance to be above-average at first base.
  
  The Future: If Melendez can find a way to make more contact, especially versus righthanders, perhaps he could be something in the Jake Burger mold. But for now he looks, at the least, like a mistake-hitting lefty masher.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 35 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #13 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Melendez played two seasons at Odessa (Texas) College before transferring to Texas, where he immediately became one of the better hitters in the Big 12. A DH-only his first year there, he went to the Marlins in the 16th round in 2021 but did not sign. He returned to Texas and not only played a solid first base but also improved as a hitter. He had a monster year, capturing the Golden Spikes Award and slugging 32 home runs, the most since the NCAA adopted bat restrictions in 2011.
  
  Scouting Report: Melendez uses his lower half well to generate and transfer energy before uncorking his powerful swing. His all-fields power is his calling card, but he also demonstrates feel to hit. He cut down on his strikeouts last year, in part thanks to a quicker swing that made it easier to shore up his approach and chase less. He also improved his walk rate. Those strides helped convince the D-backs they were taking a hitter on the rise despite him having played all last year at age 22. He is a below-average runner but his feet work well on defense and he has a chance to be an average first baseman. He also played a passable third base in his pro debut, a pleasant surprise to club officials. He has an average arm.
  
  The Future: Melendez's batted-ball data suggests his debut was better than his subpar numbers (.206/.358/.351) would suggest, but he is going to need to hit a ton--and quickly, given his age--for his prospect value to remain intact. Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #50 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Texas Committed/Drafted: Marlins ’21 (16)
  Age At Draft: 22.5
  BA Grade: 50/High
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50
  Melendez has put together a monster spring for the Longhorns. Heading into postseason play, the 6-foot-3 225-pound slugger had made a legitimate run at the Division I triple crown, registering a top 10 batting average at .406, tied for the lead in home runs with 29 and just two RBIs short of the nation’s leader with 87. The Longhorns’ first baseman brings a relaxed but aggressive approach with him to the plate. He likes to sink into his lower half before letting his hands fly. Unlike a lot of power hitters, Melendez rarely overswings. With more of a bat-to-ball approach, he allows his power to come naturally rather than forcing the issue. Melendez’s spray chart is a work of art. He has the ability to drive the ball the other way with authority, and opposing arms are cautious of attacking zones where Melendez can get extension. Some teams will find success if they’re able to pitch inside effectively or get him to chase spin down in the zone, but the attempts come with a warning, as Melendez will crush mistakes that catch too much of the plate. Melendez has strong plate discipline, as he walked more than he struck out heading into NCAA Tournament play (47 to 43). Melendez’s skill on the defensive side is equally impressive. He committed just one error all spring with a .998 fielding percentage, and he should have no problem holding the position down at the pro level. Melendez moves fairly well for a big man, too, as he’s not a clogger on the basepaths. Melendez’s performance has put him in a favorable spot for July’s draft. He’ll likely be the earliest first baseman off the board and could be a quick riser up the minor league ladder.
• Ranked #197 prospect in 2021 draft
  For a stretch in April, Melendez was the hottest hitter in college baseball, hitting a home run in seven consecutive games. Melendez sees himself as a hitter first, and he does have a shot to be a fringe-average hitter. But his calling card is plus power and he posts the exit velocities to prove it. With his long limbs, he has solid plate coverage. He eats up pitchers on the outer third, with the ability to drive balls to the opposite-field power alley. With every college hitter in this year’s class, teams are operating with less information than in past years. Melendez didn’t get to show what he could do with wood last summer and he also wasn’t able to show what he can do defensively. Melendez played third base at Odessa (Texas) JC, and his average arm strength reminds everyone that he was a pitcher in high school before he suffered a labrum injury to his non-throwing arm playing football. But he’s been a near full-time DH for Texas (in deference to senior Zach Zubia). Scouts believe he could be average at first, but that’s based on very limited looks, and they haven’t seen what he can do with a wood bat. Melendez is a below-average runner, but moves well for his size. Melendez has a chance to be a well-rounded hitter with power, which should lead him to be a solid Day Two pick.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Melendez played two seasons at Odessa (Texas) College before transferring to Texas, where he immediately became one of the better hitters in the Big 12. A DH-only his first year there, he went to the Marlins in the 16th round in 2021 but did not sign. He returned to Texas and not only played a solid first base but also improved as a hitter. He had a monster year, capturing the Golden Spikes Award and slugging 32 home runs, the most since the NCAA adopted bat restrictions in 2011.
  
  Scouting Report: Melendez uses his lower half well to generate and transfer energy before uncorking his powerful swing. His all-fields power is his calling card, but he also demonstrates feel to hit. He cut down on his strikeouts last year, in part thanks to a quicker swing that made it easier to shore up his approach and chase less. He also improved his walk rate. Those strides helped convince the D-backs they were taking a hitter on the rise despite him having played all last year at age 22. He is a below-average runner but his feet work well on defense and he has a chance to be an average first baseman. He also played a passable third base in his pro debut, a pleasant surprise to club officials. He has an average arm.
  
  The Future: Melendez's batted-ball data suggests his debut was better than his subpar numbers (.206/.358/.351) would suggest, but he is going to need to hit a ton--and quickly, given his age--for his prospect value to remain intact. Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Melendez played two seasons at Odessa (Texas) College before transferring to Texas, where he immediately became one of the better hitters in the Big 12. A DH-only his first year there, he went to the Marlins in the 16th round in 2021 but did not sign. He returned to Texas and not only played a solid first base but also improved as a hitter. He had a monster year, capturing the Golden Spikes Award and slugging 32 home runs, the most since the NCAA adopted bat restrictions in 2011.
  
  Scouting Report: Melendez uses his lower half well to generate and transfer energy before uncorking his powerful swing. His all-fields power is his calling card, but he also demonstrates feel to hit. He cut down on his strikeouts last year, in part thanks to a quicker swing that made it easier to shore up his approach and chase less. He also improved his walk rate. Those strides helped convince the D-backs they were taking a hitter on the rise despite him having played all last year at age 22. He is a below-average runner but his feet work well on defense and he has a chance to be an average first baseman. He also played a passable third base in his pro debut, a pleasant surprise to club officials. He has an average arm.
  
  The Future: Melendez's batted-ball data suggests his debut was better than his subpar numbers (.206/.358/.351) would suggest, but he is going to need to hit a ton--and quickly, given his age--for his prospect value to remain intact. Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  August Update: Melendez has put together a monster spring for the Longhorns. Heading into postseason play, the 6-foot-3 225-pound slugger had made a legitimate run at the Division I triple crown, registering a top 10 batting average at .406, tied for the lead in home runs with 29 and just two RBIs short of the nation&#39s leader with 87. The Longhorns&#39 first baseman brings a relaxed but aggressive approach with him to the plate. He likes to sink into his lower half before letting his hands fly. Unlike a lot of power hitters, Melendez rarely overswings. With more of a bat-to-ball approach, he allows his power to come naturally rather than forcing the issue. Melendez&#39s spray chart is a work of art. He has the ability to drive the ball the other way with authority, and opposing arms are cautious of attacking zones where Melendez can get extension. Some teams will find success if they&#39re able to pitch inside effectively or get him to chase spin down in the zone, but the attempts come with a warning, as Melendez will crush mistakes that catch too much of the plate. Melendez has strong plate discipline, as he walked more than he struck out heading into NCAA Tournament play (47 to 43). Melendez&#39s skill on the defensive side is equally impressive. He committed just one error all spring with a .998 fielding percentage, and he should have no problem holding the position down at the pro level. Melendez moves fairly well for a big man, too, as he&#39s not a clogger on the basepaths. He could be a quick riser up the minor league ladder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 55. Arm: 50.