J.C. Mejia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #30 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Mejia started his professional career slowly, spending three years in the Dominican Summer League. He made his U.S. debut in 2017 and started to build some buzz before breaking out in 2018—a performance that led him to be a popular name at the trade deadline and eventually added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was unable to capitalize on that momentum in 2019, however, due to a hip injury that limited him to eight starts and ended his season in June.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mejia has a big, 6-foot-4 frame with a chance to develop into a solid starting pitcher. His fastball has been up to 96 mph and sits at 93. He has a good feel for spin and his curveball and slider both have plus potential. He also can generate swings-and-misses with his changeup. He pitches with above-average control. With a big frame and a solid four-pitch arsenal that he can throw for strikes, Mejia offers considerable upside but is also short on experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mejia should be fully healthy for the start of the 2020 season and will look to make up for lost time. If he can get back to where he was before his injury, he should soon reach Double-A Akron.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #17 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Indians in 2013 signed Mejia as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. He started his professional career slowly, spending three years in the Dominican Summer League. He made his U.S. debut in 2017 and started to build some buzz before breaking out in 2018. His performance this year, mostly at low Class A Lake County, led him to be a popular name at the trade deadline and he was eventually added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
  
  Scouting Report: Mejia has a big, 6-foot-4 frame with a chance to develop into a solid starting pitcher. His fastball has been up to 96 mph and sits at 93. He has a good feel for spin and his curveball and slider both have plus potential. He also can generate swings-and-misses with his changeup. He pitches with above-average control. With a big frame and a solid four-pitch arsenal that he can throw for strikes, Mejia offers considerable upside. But he is also short on experience. Already 22, he has only started 17 games and thrown 241.1 innings in his career.
  
  The Future: In 2019 Mejia will look to build on his breakout performance with high Class A Lynchburg. If he does, he should start advancing more quickly and could soon establish himself as one of the Indians' top pitching prospects.

• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Mejia started his professional career slowly, spending three years in the Dominican Summer League. He made his U.S. debut in 2017 and started to build some buzz before breaking out in 2018—a performance that led him to be a popular name at the trade deadline and eventually added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was unable to capitalize on that momentum in 2019, however, due to a hip injury that limited him to eight starts and ended his season in June.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mejia has a big, 6-foot-4 frame with a chance to develop into a solid starting pitcher. His fastball has been up to 96 mph and sits at 93. He has a good feel for spin and his curveball and slider both have plus potential. He also can generate swings-and-misses with his changeup. He pitches with above-average control. With a big frame and a solid four-pitch arsenal that he can throw for strikes, Mejia offers considerable upside but is also short on experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mejia should be fully healthy for the start of the 2020 season and will look to make up for lost time. If he can get back to where he was before his injury, he should soon reach Double-A Akron.