Melky Mesa Stats & Scouting Report

AB	15
AVG	.4
OBP	.438
SLG	.533
HR	0

Full name Melquisedec Mesa
Born 01/31/1987 in Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 09/22/2012

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Mesa didn't make it to full-season ball until 2009, his sixth pro campaign. His ninth pro season ended in the major leagues, as he earned a September callup and got his first big league hit after setting career highs in home runs (23) and slugging percentage (.480). Consistent contact has been Mesa's biggest problem over the years, though he shaved his strikeout rate to 26 percent last season, down from 33 percent in 2011. He has tinkered with gimmicky stances in the past but stayed with one basic approach in 2012, allowing him to see the ball better and stay consistent. Breaking balls still vex him at times, but he's less pull-happy and makes better use of the whole field now. He has plus raw power, though he'll likely never be a first-division regular because of his lack of plate discipline. Mesa, who shook off a shoulder injury during the season, is a plus runner and a fine defender in center field. His above-average arm makes him an even better fit in right, and he can handle all three spots. Veteran Andruw Jones signed to play in Japan, so Mesa could provide a younger, cheaper, much faster alternative for the Yankees' lefty-heavy outfield. Otherwise, he's ticketed for Triple-A.
His physical appearance and batting stance resemble Alfonso Soriano's, so Mesa inevitably gets compared to the former Yankees second baseman. Mesa remains one of the organization's top athletes and would be a fivetool player if scouts thought he'd ever be an average hitter. New York is willing to wait to see if his bat develops and added him to the 40-man roster in November. Mesa earned MVP honors in the Florida State League in 2010 as Tampa's everyday center fielder, primarily hitting fourth and fifth in the lineup. A pitch smashed into his wrist on Aug. 28 and forced him to miss the last 10 days of the FSL regular season and the playoffs, but he still finished second in the league in homers (19) and slugging (.475). Mesa has a loose, handsy swing and easy power that comes with a flick of the wrist. His problems stem from being overly aggressive at the plate, though he did cut his strikeout rate from 34 percent of his at-bats in 2009 to 29 percent last year. His speed and arm both grade out as plus tools as well, and he's an above-average right fielder with enough ability to fill in as a center fielder. Mesa's contact issues likely will limit his productivity at upper levels, and 2011 will be a crucial test for him in Double-A.
Mesa was one of the Yankees' success stories in 2009, raising the possibility of a two-Melky outfield in New York. (In Mesa's case, Melky is short for Melquisedec, an Old Testament non-Hebrew priest.) Mesa was Charleston's most explosive player in 2009, and he could be the system's top five-tool player, with a lean, wiry frame and loads of athletic ability. The problem is that most scouts consider him a below-average hitter. Mesa is a free swinger who is overly aggressive, no matter what the count. One scout said pitch recognition wasn't the problem, which gave him hope that Mesa would make enough contact to be a regular. The ball jumps off his bat thanks to elite bat speed, and he crushes fastballs. He has the ability to put backspin on the ball, turning line drives into home runs. He's a plus runner who'll have average speed once he fills out, and he has an above-average arm that should fit in right field. Mesa can play center field in a pinch but doesn't have the range or instincts to be an everyday player there. The Yankees want to see him reach what senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman calls "that happy convergence of impact and contact" more often. They'll see if Mesa can make the necessary adjustments in high Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

Mesa was old for high Class A at age 23, but Gose was the only FSL player with a better package of all-around tools. The league MVP for FSL champion Tampa, Mesa showed true four-tool ability before being hit by a pitch in late August, preventing him from playing in the postseason. He has excellent raw power that already makes its presence felt in games, runs well, covers a lot of ground in center field and owns a strong, accurate arm. But his hitting ability isn't nearly as advanced, which will hold him back unless he shows he can make better adjustments. He strikes out too much because he doesn't like (or really recognize) any pitch that has a wrinkle to it. His bat speed and swing path are fine, but he has to learn to deal with breaking balls. In an ideal scenario, Mesa could be a bargain version of Drew Stubbs, providing similar power, defense and strikeouts. At the same time, his lack of pitch recognition could keep him from ever reaching the big leagues.
In the sixth year of his pro career, Melquisedec Mesa finally reached a full-season league in 2009. He wowed onlookers with his light-tower power, arm strength and speed. "Everybody always talks about him," Tyson said. "He's a complete tool package. He impresses everybody with everything he does. He's the most fun guy to watch in the league." Despite a wiry 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, Mesa generates great bat speed thanks to strong forearms, wrists and hands. Though teams pitched around him and he batted just .231, he smacked 20 homers and 51 extra-base hits. His overly aggressive approach resulted in a SAL-high 168 strikeouts in 497 at-bats. Mesa has plus speed but stole only 18 bases because he didn't get on base much. His quickness translates well into the outfield, where he reads balls off the bat and takes precise routes. He spent most of his time in right field and showed off the league's best arm, a plus-plus cannon that recorded a league-best 19 assists.