Can MJ Melendez keep it up?
The Mets are getting production from an unlikely source.
Apr 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets left fielder Mj Melendez (1) celebrates in the dugout after he hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images MJ Melendez was thrust into a challenging situation last month. The struggling New York Mets faced the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road, amid what would become a 12-game losing streak.
Seeking a spark, Melendez was plugged into the lineup and laced two doubles and notched an RBI against Shohei Ohtani. Though the Mets lost 8-2, Melendez has since been a reliable asset. Melendez has been contributing in the heart of the order for the Mets, an unexpected development for the preseason playoff favorites.
On Wednesday in Colorado, he added a triple, a walk, and a check-swing single. Keith Hernandez remarked after the lucky single, “When you’re hot, you’re hot,” on SNY. The club lost eight more games after Melendez’s debut, but he has not been at fault.
In just 16 games as DH and outfielder, the fifth-year player has blown away his career numbers, posting a 158 wRC+ and . 912 OPS to lift a struggling lineup. The question remains: can he put up numbers anywhere close to that for a sustained period?