Kansas City Royals: Lexington Legends roster loaded with MLB prospects

MJ MELENDEZ (CATCHER/DESIGNATED HITTER)

As much as we all want Salvador Perez to play forever, he’s going to have to hang up the cleats eventually. He’s signed through the end of the 2021 season and that sets up perfectly for Legends catcher MJ Melendez to take over when Perez’s career as a Royal is over.

Melendez spent the entire 2018 season in Lexington, slashing .251/.322/.492 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI in 419 at bats. He walked 43 times and struck out 143 times.

Melendez spent most of the season catching for the Legends, but he started 40 games as the designated hitter, which is something that young catchers do frequently. Catching can be taxing with all of the squatting and crouching, so it’s only fitting they get a day off defensively from time to time. It’s still important to have their bat in the lineup though.

Perez still has a few solid years left in him, but watching MJ Melendez develop in Lexington is a welcomed sight. He’s just 19 years old (not turning 20 until late November) and could even spend the final year of Perez’s contract backing up the future Royals Hall of Famer.