Conner Menez

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Conner Menez

|image = Conner_Scott_Menez_Fighters_20220806.jpg

|width = 280

|caption = Menez with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

|team = Diablos Rojos del México

|number = 45

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|5|29}}

|birth_place = Hollister, California, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 21

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

| debut2league = NPB

| debut2date = July 19

| debut2year = 2022

| debut2team = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 2–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.95

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 46

|stat2league = NPB

|stat2year = 2023 season

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 1-2

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 2.13

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 47

|teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2022}})
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters ({{npby|2022}}–{{npby|2023}})

}}

Conner Scott Menez (born May 29, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He played college baseball at The Master's University and was drafted by the Giants in the 14th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.

Amateur career

Menez attended San Benito High School in Hollister, California. He then played college baseball at The Master's University from 2014 to 2016, where he had a 20–5 win–loss record and a 2.26 career earned run average (ERA), the lowest in school history.{{Cite web |url=https://sanbenito.com/2016/06/15/baseball-for-conner-menez-reality-is-better-than-a-dream/ |title=Baseball: For Conner Menez, reality is better than a dream - SanBenito.com |access-date=June 14, 2019 |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721032319/https://sanbenito.com/2016/06/15/baseball-for-conner-menez-reality-is-better-than-a-dream/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://gomustangs.com/news/2019/7/21/baseball-masters-alum-conner-menez-shines-in-mlb-debut.aspx|title=Master's alum Conner Menez shines in MLB debut|website=The Master's University Athletics|date=October 2024 }}

Professional career

=San Francisco Giants=

The San Francisco Giants selected Menez in the 14th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.richmond.com/sports/flying-squirrels/drafted-by-favorite-team-pitcher-conner-menez-getting-first-double/article_7b7a71d4-dd01-53a4-a945-24b29cb6e524.html |title=Drafted by favorite team, pitcher Conner Menez getting first Double-A experience with Flying Squirrels | Sports |publisher=richmond.com |date=2018-06-19 |access-date=2019-11-13}} He signed for a $75,000 signing bonus.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=204032 |title=Conner Menez |publisher=The Baseball Cube |date=2016-06-21 |access-date=2019-11-20}}

Menez spent his first professional season with the Arizona League Giants, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and San Jose Giants, pitching to a combined 4–1 record and 4.22 ERA in 53.1 innings pitched between the three teams. He pitched in 2017 with San Jose, going 7–7 with a 4.41 ERA in 23 games (22 starts), and in 2018 with San Jose, the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Sacramento River Cats,{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/458726/2018/08/05/a-cal-league-education-has-giants-prospect-conner-menez-on-the-big-league-path/ |title=A Cal League education has Giants prospect Conner Menez on the big league path – The Athletic |publisher=Theathletic.com |date=2018-08-05 |access-date=2019-11-13}} compiling a combined 9–10 record with a 4.46 ERA in 28 total starts with 171 strikeouts in 135.1 innings (averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings).

He started 2019 with Richmond and was promoted to Sacramento during the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/richmond/news/left-hander-conner-menez-on-path-to-one-day-pitch-for-hometown-san-francisco-giants/c-307299580 |title=Left-hander Conner Menez on path to one day pitch for hometown San Francisco Giants | Flying Squirrels |publisher=Milb.com |date=2019-05-16 |access-date=2019-11-13}}{{cite web|last=Pavlovic |first=Alex |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-lefty-conner-menez-looks-next-young-pitcher-get-shot |title=Giants lefty Conner Menez looks like next young pitcher to get a shot | NBCS Bay Area |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=2019-06-07 |access-date=2019-11-13}} Between the two teams, in 2019 he was 6–4 with a 3.79 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) in which he pitched 121 innings and struck out 154 batters (averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=menez-000con |title=Conner Menez Minor Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |access-date=2019-11-20}}

On July 21, 2019, the Giants selected Menez's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Hollister-strong-Giants-to-promote-lefty-14110851.php|title=NorCal strong — Giants to promote lefty Conner Menez, infielder Zach Green from Triple-A|author=Henry Schulman|website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=July 20, 2019|access-date=July 20, 2019}} In his major league debut that day, he pitched five innings while allowing 2 runs and recording six strikeouts.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/conner-menez-zach-green-reflect-making-mlb-debuts-giants|title=Conner Menez, Zach Green reflect on making MLB debuts with Giants|author=Ali Thanawalla|website=NBC Sports Bay Area|date=July 21, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019}} In 2019 for the Giants he was 0–1 with a 5.29 ERA in eight games (three starts) covering 17 innings in which he struck out 22 batters.

In 2020 for the Giants, Menez pitched to a 2.38 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 11.1 innings of work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2020/11/15/21566278/san-francisco-giants-conner-menez-season-review|title=Conner Menez had an up-and-down year|first=Brady|last=Klopfer|date=November 15, 2020|website=McCovey Chronicles}}

On August 4, 2021, Menez was designated for assignment by the Giants.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/|title=Major League Baseball Transactions|website=Major League Baseball}} Menez was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento on August 7.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-conner-menez-outrighted-to-triple-a/|title=Giants' Conner Menez: Outrighted to Triple-A|website=CBSSports.com|date=August 7, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021}}

=Chicago Cubs=

On December 8, 2021, the Chicago Cubs selected Menez in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-rule-5-draft-minor-league-phase|title=Rule 5 Draft results, pick by pick|website=MLB.com|access-date=December 14, 2021}} He was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs to begin the 2022 season.

On May 9, 2022, Menez was selected to the 40-man and active rosters.{{Cite web|title=Cubs' Conner Menez: Contract selected by Cubs|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-conner-menez-contract-selected-by-cubs/amp/|access-date=2023-02-07|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} After pitching a scoreless inning in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, he was optioned back to Triple-A Iowa. On June 4, Menez was designated for assignment by Chicago after Caleb Kilian had his contract selected.{{Cite web|title=Cubs' Conner Menez: Loses spot on 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-conner-menez-loses-spot-on-40-man-roster/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=cbssports.com|date=June 4, 2022 |language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa on June 6.{{Cite web|title=Cubs' Conner Menez: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-conner-menez-outrighted-to-triple-a/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=cbssports.com|date=June 6, 2022 |language=en}}

= Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters =

On June 24, 2022, Menez announced via Instagram that he would be signing with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).{{Cite web |title=日本ハム、前カブスのメネズ獲得稲葉GM「今のファイターズにはいない左腕」（Full-Count） |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3e49c2e842c8b3d2090a978cb96327559ee32b9d |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Yahoo!ニュース |language=ja |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628023434/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3e49c2e842c8b3d2090a978cb96327559ee32b9d |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Conner Menez: Heading to Japan |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/conner-menez-heading-to-japan/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=CBSSports.com |date=June 24, 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-24 |title=Conner Menez to sign with NPB's Nippon-Ham Fighters |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/conner_menez_to_sign_with_npbs_nippon_ham_fighters/s1_13237_37620608 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}} Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo said regarding Menez's acquisition that he may come to Japan "in a week".{{Cite web |title=日本ハム新助っ人左腕・メネズ1週間以内に来日へ新庄監督「1軍で投げた方がいい」と即1軍デビューも（スポニチアネックス） |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6adcb7c053fdc74033b54a8caca9278e2bccabb4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628023435/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6adcb7c053fdc74033b54a8caca9278e2bccabb4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Yahoo!ニュース |language=ja }} In 18 appearances for the Fighters, Menez recorded a 1.08 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 25.0 innings pitched.

In 2023, Menez pitched in 12 games for the Fighters, logging a 3.16 ERA with 19 strikeouts in {{fraction|25|2|3}} innings of work. On July 1, 2023, Menez was released by Hokkaido.{{Cite web|title=Nippon Ham Gantt & Menez's departure announcement Gantt 1st army no pitching, Menez has 1 win and 2 losses in total|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/63faeaf8a60cfe0d4f60487bb05311f826c338b2|access-date=July 4, 2023|website=yahoo.co.jp|language=en|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705072058/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/63faeaf8a60cfe0d4f60487bb05311f826c338b2|url-status=dead}}

On October 9, 2023, Menez signed to played winter baseball with the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Professional Baseball League, where he pitched in three games.{{cite web|title=Águilas anuncian contratación del lanzador Conner Menez|url=https://aguilas.com.do/aguilas-anuncian-contratacion-del-lanzador-conner-menez/|website=Aguilas.com |date=October 9, 2023}}

=Diablos Rojos del México=

On March 23, 2024, Menez signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=Movimientos|url=https://www.diablos.com.mx/roster/movimientos?fecha=2024-03|access-date=April 6, 2024|website=diablos.com.mx|language=en}} In 31 games (7 starts), he compiled a 4–2 record and 4.25 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 53 innings of work. With the team, Menez won the Serie del Rey.{{Cite web|title=LMB: ¡Los Diablos Rojos se llevan al infierno su título 17 y reinan en lo más alto de la Liga Mexicana de Beisbol!|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-los-diablos-rojos-se-llevan-al-infierno-su-titulo-17-y-reinan-en-lo-mas-alto-de-la-liga-mexicana-de-beisbol|access-date=November 14, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}

On October 17, 2024, Menez signed to played winter baseball with the Tomateros de Culiacán of the Mexican Pacific League.{{cite web|title=Tomateros Inicia Fuerte y se lleva la Serie Contra Algodoneros|url=https://tomateros.com.mx/2024/10/17/tomateros-inicia-fuerte-y-se-lleva-la-serie-contra-algodoneros/|website=Tomateros.com.mx |date=October 17, 2024}}