MJ Melendez

Melendez led the minor leagues with 41 home runs in 2021, but he has managed just 51 homers and a .397 SLG in his first 1,587 MLB plate appearances. He has not made progress with his strikeout rate, and his walk rate, a strength when he first broke in to the majors in 2022, fell to a career-low 7.8 percent last season. The former catching prospect seems to be done behind the plate since he did not make a single appearance at the catcher position for the Royals in 2024, playing primarily in left field. Consider him a platoon outfielder, though he projects to be on the strong side, at least to open the campaign. This type of power is tough to give up on, but the 26-year-old is on thin ice as a regular and will need to show more in 2025. Read Past Outlooks