MIGUEL MENDEZ

1/8/88; NDFA '05; Dominican Republic
R/R; 6-0, 170

Level	BA	OBP	SA	AB	2B	3B	HR	BB	K	SB	CS
2006 DSL	.203	.318	.243	74	3	0	0	8	23	0	1
2007 INJURED
2008 A-	.205	.253	.256	78	4	0	0	4	26	0	0
2008 R	.400	.477	.727	55	3	0	5	7	12	1	0
2009 A-	.161	.246	.179	112	2	0	0	12	22	0	0

The Pirates' media guide shows Mendez as having played for the GCL Pirates in 2005. That can't be right, as he wasn't signed until September of that year and he's not listed anywhere else. As it was, he started off 2008 as part of the catcher rotation in the GCL with no track record to speak of, and went on a hitting tear. It's a very small sample size but not many players show a lot of power in the GCL, even for brief stretches. The Pirates quickly promoted Mendez to State College, although it probably had less to do with his hitting than with an injury to Josue Peley and the loss of Chris Simmons to military service. He didn't hit there. He spent 2009 sharing the catching duties at State College with Craig Parry. It's safe to say he answered any questions about whether he's a prospect in the negative. He may make the transition to organizational catcher next year.

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