Drew Mendoza Stats & Scouting Report

AB	34
AVG	.235
OBP	.316
SLG	.265
HR	0

Full name Andrew Keeler Mendoza
Born 10/10/1997 in Ocoee, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Florida State
Drafted in the 3rd round (94th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2019 (signed for $800,000).

View Draft Report

In 2016, Mendoza was a quick-rising draft prospect with a big frame who showed a knack for hitting and future power projection. Scouts hit that evaluation on the head, and over three years with Florida State, Mendoza has filled out his frame and is now listed at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. That strength has produced double-digits home runs in two of his three years in the ACC, including this spring, when he’s hit a career-high 13 home runs through 46 games. Mendoza has above-average raw power, but it’s strength over bat speed and scouts question how much he’ll be able to reach his power against professional pitching. He has a solid eye at the plate and doesn’t chase out of the zone often, but he swings and misses enough at pitches in the zone for scouts to question his overall hitting ability. His wood bat track record in the Cape Cod League, where he’s hit .199/.291/.278 with a 32 percent strikeout rate in 57 games, is also discouraging. Mendoza actually moves well for his size at third base, but he’s played below-average defense this spring. His throwing accuracy has been a bit scattered, leading some evaluators to think he would be a better fit for first base, where there would be even more pressure on his bat. There’s no denying Mendoza has produced each season with the Seminoles, and his power has ticked up since his freshman season. But with a strikeout rate that’s never been lower than 20 percent and questions about his approach against higher-level pitching, there is some risk projecting his bat moving forward, despite his obvious size and strength.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

TRACK RECORD: Mendoza led the Atlantic Coast Conference in walks and on-base percentage in 2019 and helped lead Florida State to two College World Series trips in his three years in Tallahassee. He signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2019 and immediately made the switch from third base to first base at low Class A Hagerstown. He reported to the alternate training site in August after what he called a "minimal" experience with Covid-19.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Nationals would like Mendoza to take more early-count swings, but he's begun to show more power to his pull side and use his legs better. His swing tends to get too long, but he has as much power potential as anybody in the system and shows enough feel for the barrel to project as an average hitter. He needs to make more consistent contact. Mendoza returned to third base at the alternate site and showed soft hands, above-average arm strength and improving footwork. His size still makes him a likely first baseman long term.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza will be tested by pitchers with better command at the upper levels. He'll take his first crack against them in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Mendoza ranked as one of the top high school prospects in the 2016 draft but was strongly committed to Florida State, where both of his parents attended. After leading the Seminoles to two College World Series appearances in three years, he signed with the Nationals for $800,000 as their third-round pick in 2019. A college third baseman and shortstop, Mendoza moved to first base in his first summer as a professional with low Class A Hagerstown.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mendoza has the tools to hit and is extremely knowledgeable of the strike zone, but at times he is overly passive. The Nationals are looking for more of a ready-to-hit mentality, which should get him into fewer two-strike counts. Mendoza hits drives to center field and the opposite field and is athletic for such a big man. He can be an average hitter with above-average power as he hones his approach. Mendoza's athleticism was on display defensively when he quickly took to playing first base, looking like a natural around the bag as he worked out with infield coordinator Jeff Garber. He has soft hands and an above-average arm for a first baseman.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza is expected to take his calm hitting approach to high Class A in 2020. He has room to fill out and hit for more power.

Draft Prospects

In 2016, Mendoza was a quick-rising draft prospect with a big frame who showed a knack for hitting and future power projection. Scouts hit that evaluation on the head, and over three years with Florida State, Mendoza has filled out his frame and is now listed at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. That strength has produced double-digits home runs in two of his three years in the ACC, including this spring, when he's hit a career-high 13 home runs through 46 games. Mendoza has above-average raw power, but it's strength over bat speed and scouts question how much he'll be able to reach his power against professional pitching. He has a solid eye at the plate and doesn't chase out of the zone often, but he swings and misses enough at pitches in the zone for scouts to question his overall hitting ability. His wood bat track record in the Cape Cod League, where he's hit .199/.291/.278 with a 32 percent strikeout rate in 57 games, is also discouraging. Mendoza actually moves well for his size at third base, but he's played below-average defense this spring. His throwing accuracy has been a bit scattered, leading some evaluators to think he would be a better fit for first base, where there would be even more pressure on his bat. There's no denying Mendoza has produced each season with the Seminoles, and his power has ticked up since his freshman season. But with a strikeout rate that's never been lower than 20 percent and questions about his approach against higher-level pitching, there is some risk projecting his bat moving forward, despite his obvious size and strength.
Mendoza was the leading scorer on Lake Minneola High's basketball team this winter, and carried his strong performance over to the diamond this spring. The lefthanded hitter has impressed scouts with his hitting prowess, becoming one of the fastest rising players in the draft, although opinions are notably mixed on how much ceiling he has. Mendoza is a shortstop in high school, but listed at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, he is likely to move to third base at the next level. His bat should profile at the hot corner, particularly as he adds strength to his frame and learns to tap into his raw power even more. He has plus arm strength, but he will need to work on his hands and footwork to ultimately stay in the infield. Mendoza is committed to Florida State.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Washington Nationals in 2020

Scouting Reports

TRACK RECORD: Mendoza led the Atlantic Coast Conference in walks and on-base percentage in 2019 and helped lead Florida State to two College World Series trips in his three years in Tallahassee. He signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2019 and immediately made the switch from third base to first base at low Class A Hagerstown. He reported to the alternate training site in August after what he called a "minimal" experience with Covid-19.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Nationals would like Mendoza to take more early-count swings, but he's begun to show more power to his pull side and use his legs better. His swing tends to get too long, but he has as much power potential as anybody in the system and shows enough feel for the barrel to project as an average hitter. He needs to make more consistent contact. Mendoza returned to third base at the alternate site and showed soft hands, above-average arm strength and improving footwork. His size still makes him a likely first baseman long term.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza will be tested by pitchers with better command at the upper levels. He'll take his first crack against them in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Mendoza led the Atlantic Coast Conference in walks and on-base percentage in 2019 and helped lead Florida State to two College World Series trips in his three years in Tallahassee. He signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2019 and immediately made the switch from third base to first base at low Class A Hagerstown. He reported to the alternate training site in August after what he called a "minimal" experience with Covid-19.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Nationals would like Mendoza to take more early-count swings, but he's begun to show more power to his pull side and use his legs better. His swing tends to get too long, but he has as much power potential as anybody in the system and shows enough feel for the barrel to project as an average hitter. He needs to make more consistent contact. Mendoza returned to third base at the alternate site and showed soft hands, above-average arm strength and improving footwork. His size still makes him a likely first baseman long term.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza will be tested by pitchers with better command at the upper levels. He'll take his first crack against them in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Mendoza led the Atlantic Coast Conference in walks and on-base percentage in 2019 and helped lead Florida State to two College World Series trips in his three years in Tallahassee. He signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2019 and immediately made the switch from third base to first base at low Class A Hagerstown. He reported to the alternate training site in August after what he called a "minimal" experience with Covid-19.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Nationals would like Mendoza to take more early-count swings, but he's begun to show more power to his pull side and use his legs better. His swing tends to get too long, but he has as much power potential as anybody in the system and shows enough feel for the barrel to project as an average hitter. He needs to make more consistent contact. Mendoza returned to third base at the alternate site and showed soft hands, above-average arm strength and improving footwork. His size still makes him a likely first baseman long term.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza will be tested by pitchers with better command at the upper levels. He'll take his first crack against them in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Mendoza ranked as one of the top high school prospects in the 2016 draft but was strongly committed to Florida State, where both of his parents attended. After leading the Seminoles to two College World Series appearances in three years, he signed with the Nationals for $800,000 as their third-round pick in 2019. A college third baseman and shortstop, Mendoza moved to first base in his first summer as a professional with low Class A Hagerstown.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mendoza has the tools to hit and is extremely knowledgeable of the strike zone, but at times he is overly passive. The Nationals are looking for more of a ready-to-hit mentality, which should get him into fewer two-strike counts. Mendoza hits drives to center field and the opposite field and is athletic for such a big man. He can be an average hitter with above-average power as he hones his approach. Mendoza’s athleticism was on display defensively when he quickly took to playing first base, looking like a natural around the bag as he worked out with infield coordinator Jeff Garber. He has soft hands and an above-average arm for a first baseman.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza is expected to take his calm hitting approach to high Class A in 2020. He has room to fill out and hit for more power.
TRACK RECORD: Mendoza ranked as one of the top high school prospects in the 2016 draft but was strongly committed to Florida State, where both of his parents attended. After leading the Seminoles to two College World Series appearances in three years, he signed with the Nationals for $800,000 as their third-round pick in 2019. A college third baseman and shortstop, Mendoza moved to first base in his first summer as a professional with low Class A Hagerstown.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mendoza has the tools to hit and is extremely knowledgeable of the strike zone, but at times he is overly passive. The Nationals are looking for more of a ready-to-hit mentality, which should get him into fewer two-strike counts. Mendoza hits drives to center field and the opposite field and is athletic for such a big man. He can be an average hitter with above-average power as he hones his approach. Mendoza's athleticism was on display defensively when he quickly took to playing first base, looking like a natural around the bag as he worked out with infield coordinator Jeff Garber. He has soft hands and an above-average arm for a first baseman.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza is expected to take his calm hitting approach to high Class A in 2020. He has room to fill out and hit for more power.
In 2016, Mendoza was a quick-rising draft prospect with a big frame who showed a knack for hitting and future power projection. Scouts hit that evaluation on the head, and over three years with Florida State, Mendoza has filled out his frame and is now listed at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. That strength has produced double-digits home runs in two of his three years in the ACC, including this spring, when he's hit a career-high 13 home runs through 46 games. Mendoza has above-average raw power, but it's strength over bat speed and scouts question how much he'll be able to reach his power against professional pitching. He has a solid eye at the plate and doesn't chase out of the zone often, but he swings and misses enough at pitches in the zone for scouts to question his overall hitting ability. His wood bat track record in the Cape Cod League, where he's hit .199/.291/.278 with a 32 percent strikeout rate in 57 games, is also discouraging. Mendoza actually moves well for his size at third base, but he's played below-average defense this spring. His throwing accuracy has been a bit scattered, leading some evaluators to think he would be a better fit for first base, where there would be even more pressure on his bat. There's no denying Mendoza has produced each season with the Seminoles, and his power has ticked up since his freshman season. But with a strikeout rate that's never been lower than 20 percent and questions about his approach against higher-level pitching, there is some risk projecting his bat moving forward, despite his obvious size and strength.