- Full name Gustavo Melendez
- Born 10/20/2007 in
- Profile Ht.: 5'8" / Wt.: 150 / Bats: L / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: Colegio La Merced HS, Cayey, P.R. Committed: Wake Forest
Age At Draft: 17.7
Melendez already has played in multiple World Cups, first playing for the USA in the U-12 World Cup in 2019, then for Puerto Rico in the U-15 World Cup in 2022. Melendez is also one of the youngest players in the 2025 class. He won’t turn 18 until October after his draft year, so he fits in with 2026 players, but his feel for the game is well beyond his years. He’s not that big, but he takes advantage of his smaller strike zone with a patient, disciplined approach and puts the ball in play at a high clip. Melendez can put a surprising charge into the ball for his size with occasional over-the-fence pop. That can get him in trouble at times when his swing gets uphill trying to get to that power, but he’s at his best when he stays with his line-drive approach and works gap to gap. An average runner, defends his position well at shortstop. He has quick feet, plays low to the ground and has smooth actions with soft hands and good body control charging the slow roller. He has the arm strength for the position and it could tick up more in the coming years.
