ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 19: Manager Kevin Cash #16 (right) of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on with Matt Quatraro #33 during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on July 19, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Kansas City Sends Struggling MJ Melendez to Triple-A, Activates Mark Canha from IL
The Kansas City Royals have optioned outfielder MJ Melendez to Triple-A Omaha following a rough start to his 2025 campaign, the team announced Saturday. In a corresponding move, outfielder and first baseman Mark Canha was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
Melendez has been mired in a major slump, batting just .085 with a .173 on-base percentage and .170 slugging across 52 plate appearances. He managed only four hits — two singles, a double, and a solo homer against the Yankees. His struggles at the plate have been glaring, with Baseball Savant placing him in the bottom 1% in Whiff Rate (42.7%) and strikeouts in nearly 39% of his at-bats.
Royals GM J.J. Picollo addressed the move, stating:
“These things take time — you can’t fix it overnight. We think MJ is doing the right things, and this gives him a chance to breathe and work on those adjustments without the pressure.”
The situation mirrors the team’s 2014 move with Mike Moustakas, who rebounded from a stint in Omaha to help lead the Royals to the World Series later that year.
Canha, who was sidelined with a left abductor strain on April 9, returns after a quick recovery and a solid rehab stint in Omaha. Prior to his injury, Canha posted an impressive .471 on-base percentage over 17 plate appearances.
With Kansas City’s outfield still searching for consistency, Melendez’s stay in Omaha could be short-lived — especially if he finds his rhythm and another outfielder continues to struggle.
