September 2023 was mired in loss for the Kansas City Royals. The team was well on its way to the worst season in club history. Among the losses, however, outfielder MJ Melendez was amid a quiet breakout, hitting .261/.409/.493 in the final month of the 106-loss season.
Now, fast forward to a little more than a year later, he’s become one of the more polarizing figures in the current Royals lineup. In 2024, Melendez slashed an abysmal .206/.273/.400. The power was evident. That power made Melendez the minor league leader in home runs with 41 back in 2021.