Getting to Know: Cubs seventh-rounder Yahil Melendez |
After going with a high schooler in round six of the 2023 MLB draft, the Cubs doubled down in round seven and went back on the high school circuit to make their pick. Not only did they go after an infielder, but yet another SS, as that appears to be one of the targets the Cubs covet so highly.
This time it was Yahil Melendez hearing his name called as the Cubs selected him in round seven of the 2023 MLB draft. Born in Guanica, Puerto Rico, Melendez attended the B You Academy in Puerto Rico, where he had a very nice Prep career. At 6-3 and 195 pounds, there is a lot to like about his frame, especially knowing there is plenty of room for him to grow into his body in the coming years. Listed as a top 300 overall prospect and the 62nd-best SS, Melendez was also the sixth-best prospect out of Puerto Rico and the second-best SS. Listed as a Rice commit when the draft started, the Cubs offered Melendez a contract to sign with the Cubs, and he elected to go that route to begin his professional career. Where he fits on this team long-term remains to be seen, but I expect him to land in the DSL or ACL this summer to get some work in. Melendez may have a slender build, but he has the athleticism to stick at shortstop and has emerged as one of the better prep SS prospects in this year's class. He is a natural in the field, which many teams love, and brings a very smooth left-handed swing at the plate. That swing allows Melendrez to stay balanced in the batter's box, which enables him to generate some surprising power for his small frame. The ball has real carry off his bat, which will only show up more often as he matures. Look for him to tap into his power in about two or three years as he will look to add strength to his frame in the Cubs organization. Defensively, Melendez moves well at SS with soft, sure hands and a clean exchange and release. His rhythm and timing in the field are very good, and it appears he always works himself into position to get the good hop. There is a considerable upside in this prospect that merits very close attention, and he is almost certainly expected to shoulder an early lead at the SS position until they figure out his future plans. Going off of his defense, Melendrez has a plus arm, as his throws can reach 86 MPH from the SS position. Although he is accurate with his throws, he tends to overthrow at times, which he needs to iron out at the professional level. Like most Puerto Rican SSs or players, for that matter, Melendez is an unknown at this point in his career but has a very high upside. His offensive game is extremely raw currently, and there are both contact and impact questions, though he has fringe-average raw power that should increase in the future as he fills out his physique. He’s a below-average runner, but he has solid arm strength that should give him a chance to stick at shortstop, where he could be a serviceable defender, or potentially move to second base, where he could be average. Unlike most college draft picks, stats from last season were hard to find on Melendez. What we can tell you is that when he made contact, he hit the ball exceptionally well and was more of a line-drive hitter capable of using all fields.
