Román Méndez

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Román Méndez

| image = Román Méndez on March 13, 2012.jpg

| caption = Méndez with the Texas Rangers

| team = Conspiradores de Querétaro

| number = 84

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|7|25}}

| birth_place = San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 8

| debutyear = 2014

| debutteam = Texas Rangers

|debut2league = NPB

| debut2date = July 22

| debut2year = 2017

| debut2team = Hanshin Tigers

| statyear = 2015 season

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 0–2

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 3.09

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 32

| stat2year = 2017 season

| stat2league = NPB

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 0-0

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 6.52

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 9

|teams=

Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2015}})
Hanshin Tigers ({{npby|2017}})

}}

Román Junior Méndez Pérez (born July 25, 1990) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Professional career

=Boston Red Sox=

On July 16, 2007, Méndez signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2015/09/boston_red_sox_claim_reliever.html|title = Red Sox claim reliever Ramon Mendez off waivers|date = 12 September 2015}} Méndez made his professional debut with the DSL Red Sox in 2008. He spent the 2009 season with the rookie ball GCL Red Sox, registering a 2-3 record and 1.99 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 12 games. Méndez was assigned to the Single-A Greenville Drive to begin the 2010 season, but was later demoted to the Low-A Lowell Spinners after recording an 11.40 ERA in 6 appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mendez001rom|title = Roman Mendez Minor, Winter, Japanese & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History}}

=Texas Rangers=

On July 31, 2010, Méndez was traded, along with Chris McGuiness, to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.[https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5426806 Red Sox trade for Saltalamacchia] He finished the season in Low-A with the Spokane Indians. In 2011, Méndez spent the season in Single-A with the Hickory Crawdads, registering a 9-1 record and 3.31 ERA in 26 games.

Méndez was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster on November 21, 2011.[https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-26018476 Rangers add five former 'Dads to 40-Man Roster] He split the 2012 season between three Rangers affiliates, the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and the rookie ball AZL Rangers on a three game rehab assignment, accumulating a 6-7 record and 4.43 ERA between the clubs. Méndez did not make a major league appearance in 2013 as well, spending the season in Frisco, pitching to a 1.82 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 16 games. He was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock Express to begin the 2014 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/roman-mendez-542669|title = Roman Mendez Stats, Fantasy & News}}

The Rangers promoted Méndez to the major leagues on July 8, 2014, and he made his MLB debut that day, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings against the Houston Astros.{{Cite web | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140707&content_id=83513884&vkey=pr_tex&c_id=tex | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714221000/http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140707&content_id=83513884&vkey=pr_tex&c_id=tex | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 14, 2014 | title=Rangers recall RHP Roman Mendez, purchase contract of outfielder Jake Smolinski}} Méndez made 30 appearances for the Rangers in 2014, registering a 2.18 ERA with 22 strikeouts. Méndez began the 2015 season with Texas, but was optioned to Round Rock after pitching to a 5.40 ERA in 12 appearances. He was designated for assignment by the Rangers on September 1, 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/09/roman-mendez-designated-rangers.html|title=Rangers Designate Roman Mendez for Assignment|date=September 2015 }}

=Boston Red Sox (second stint)=

On September 11, 2015, Méndez was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.{{Cite web|url=http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2015/09/11/red-sox-claim-ramon-mendez-off-waivers-five-years-after-trading-him-for-jarrod-saltalamacchia/|title=National Leader in Sports, News Radio}} In 3 late season games for the Red Sox, Méndez allowed 1 run in 2.0 innings of work. On December 2, 2015, Méndez was designated for assignment by the Red Sox.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/red-sox-designate-roman-mendez.html|title = Red Sox Designate Roman Mendez| date=2 December 2015 }} Méndez spent the 2016 season in Triple-A with the Pawtucket Red Sox, and pitched to a 4-2 record and 3.38 ERA with 59 strikeouts without receiving a call-up to the big league club. On November 7, 2016, he elected free agency.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/?amphtml|access-date=2023-05-29|website=baseballamerica.com|date=8 November 2016 |language=en}}

=Hanshin Tigers=

On November 30, 2016, Méndez signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the 2017 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/david-huff-signs-korea-kbo.html|title = International Signings: Huff, Schlitter, Mendez| date=30 November 2016 }} In 8 games for Hanshin, he struggled to a 6.52 ERA and became a free agent after the season.

=Washington Nationals=

On January 3, 2018, Méndez signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/minor-mlb-transactions-1318.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 1/3/18|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=January 3, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2018}} He made 44 appearances out of the bullpen for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, compiling a 3.67 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 11 saves across 54 innings of work. Méndez elected free agency following the season on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=May 23, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 6, 2018 |language=en}}

=Tecolotes de Los Dos Laredos=

On April 3, 2019, Méndez signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. In 59 games 62.1 innings of relief he went 1-7 with a 3.75 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 32 saves.

Méndez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the LMB season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/07/mexican-league-cancels-2020-season.html|title=Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season|date=July 2020 }} He later became a free agent.

=Saraperos de Saltillo=

On April 23, 2022, Méndez signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo.{{Cite web |title=Roman Mendez Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/roman-mendez-542669 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Minor League Baseball |language=en}} Mèndez appeared in 38 games for Saltillo, working to a 4-0 record and 5.01 ERA with 33 strikeouts in {{fraction|41|1|3}} innings pitched. He was released on July 25.

=Bravos de León=

On February 13, 2023, Méndez signed with the Bravos de León.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-lista-de-reserva-13-de-febrero-de-2023 | title=LMB: Movimientos en lista de reserva - 13 de febrero de 2023 }} In 16 relief appearances, Méndez registered a 1–2 record with a 7.02 ERA and 13 strikeouts in {{fraction|16|2|3}} innings. He was waived on May 21.

=Olmecas de Tabasco=

On May 23, 2023, Méndez was claimed off waivers by the Olmecas de Tabasco.{{cite web|url=https://olmecastabasco.mx/boletin-de-prensa/roman-mendez-se-integra-a-relevo-de-olmecas/|title=Román Méndez se integra a relevo de Olmecas|work=olmecastabasco.mx|date=23 May 2023 |language=Spanish|access-date=May 23, 2023}} In 13 relief appearances, he posted a 0–2 record with a 5.40 ERA and 15 strikeouts in {{fraction|11|2|3}} innings. Méndez was waived on July 4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-3-de-julio-de-2023|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 3 de julio de 2023|website=Minor League Baseball|language=ES|date=July 3, 2023|access-date=July 8, 2023}}

=Conspiradores de Querétaro=

On January 25, 2024, Mendez signed with the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 25 de enero de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-25-de-enero-de-2024|access-date=January 30, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} In 46 appearances for Querétaro, he posted an 8–3 record and 5.82 ERA with 37 strikeouts across {{fraction|43|1|3}} innings pitched.