Kansas City Royals fans have been waiting for MJ Melendez to realize his potential. A second-round pick by the Royals in the 2017 MLB Draft, Melendez became a top 100 prospect after belting 41 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2021 and his debut came with plenty of hype the following season.
But while Melendez has flashed star potential, it hasn’t shown up in the major leagues. After three disappointing years, Melendez has reached a pivotal point in his career and it could be an adjustment he made this offseason that fuels a breakout season in 2025.
Yes, MJ Melendez was revamping his swing all offseason.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) February 18, 2025
“I’ve had a lot of at-bats, and that’s what I’ve been, but I don’t really feel like that’s who I am.”
Read about the how & why behind a big difference so far this spring: https://t.co/Br4uRI6gl1 pic.twitter.com/MLuKMSkoaj
MJ Melendez’s Swing Adjustment Hopes to Trigger Breakout Season for Royals
MLB.com’s Anne Rogers wrote about Melendez's offseason program and revealed a lot of the work revolved around simplifying the movements and being on time with his swing. Although Rogers downplayed the adjustments as “a complete overhaul” the biggest changes were toning down his leg kick and working on his positioning in the batter’s box to create a more consistent approach.
“They’re simplified. It’s less movement, it’s trying to be on time more consistently,” Royals manager Matt Quataro told Rogers. “He really realized that this was the right time to do it.”
Melendez’s 2021 season, where he hit .288/.386/.625 with 41 home runs and 103 RBI inspired the dreams of Royals fans as he came up through the organization. But while he put up monster numbers in the minors, he hasn’t come close to the same production in the major leagues, hitting .221/.303/.397 over his first three seasons.
The 26-year-old’s 2024 season served as a catalyst for the adjustments. While he hit 17 home runs and drove in 44 RBI, he slashed just .206/.273/.401, leading to a decrease in playing time toward the end of the year. It led Melendez to keep the Royals in the loop while he created his offseason program and has already created a different look to his swing during Spring Training.
“The last three years, I haven’t felt like I’ve really shown who I am as a player,” Melendez said. “I’ve had a lot of at-bats, and that’s what I’ve been, but I don’t really feel like that’s who I am. I was definitely eager to get into the offseason and work on my swing so I can show that I can have success.”
According to FanGraphs’s depth chart, Melendez is currently the Opening Day starter in left field for the Royals and slotted into the seventh spot in the batting order. If the offseason adjustments help him find more success at the plate, Melendez could be on track to move up in the order and reassume his place as one of the Royals’ core contributors in 2025.