Yohander Méndez #65

Yohander Manuel (Ortega) Mendez…favorite vacation spot is Virgin Islands and favorite player growing up was Endy Chavez…also played basketball in his youth…signed by Rafic Saab, Pedro Avila, and Mike Daly.

2019

INJURY/REHAB: Spent bulk of 2019 on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow UCL sprain…sustained a Grade 1 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow during a Cactus League start on 3/17 vs. ARI…opened the year on the 60-day IL and did not appear in a game until an injury rehabilitation assignment from 7/26-8/25…optioned to Nashville (AAA) on 8/26…had 12 relief app. overall in minors with AZL Rangers (Rookie), Frisco (AA), and Nashville on injury rehab assignment and while on option: 0-1, 4.91 (10 ER/18.1 IP), 14 H, 9 BB/27 SO, 4 HR, .200 opp. BA, 1.255 WHIP.

TEXAS: Was recalled by Texas on 9/5 for the remainder of the year, going 1-0, 5.79 (3 ER/4.2 IP) with a 1.929 WHIP over 3 relief appearances…allowed runs in all 3 outings and threw 49 of 100 pitches for strikes…no holds, no save chances, and allowed 2 of 4 inherited runners to score…earned relief win on 9/7 at BAL (2.1 IP, 1 R-ER) in his 1st ML game since 9/30/18 at SEA.

2018

Tossed a career-best 150.0 innings between the majors and minors, including a career-high 27.2 innings at the Major League level…opened the season at Triple-A for the 1st time in his career and had a pair of stints with the Rangers prior to the All-Star break…following an option to the minors on 6/19, he climbed 3 levels of the Texas farms system to return to the Rangers in September. Had 3 stints with Texas: 5/3-12, 6/15-18, and 9/2-end of season… had 6 games/4 starts after his Sept. promotion, going 2-1, 4.13 (11 ER/24.0 IP)…his 2 wins came in scoreless outings on 9/2 vs. MIN (6.0 IP in start) and 9/14 at SD (5.0 IP in relief), the latter being a game in which Texas used an 'opener'…the victory against the Twins was his 1st ML win…joined Ariel Jurado (3) and Mike Minor (2) as the only Rangers with multiple wins in Sept…was scratched from scheduled start for TEX on 6/20 at KC and optioned to minors on 6/19.

2017

Went 0-1, 5.11 (7 ER/12.1 IP) in 7 relief outings for the Rangers after he was recalled from Frisco (AA) on 9/4… allowed runs in 4 of 7 outings for Texas…2nd straight year as a September call-up…finished season with 2 longest outings of his brief ML career: 4.2 IP in season finale on 10/1 vs. OAK, and 3.2 IP on 9/26 vs. HOU…1st ML loss, 9/15 at LAA (BB to only BF), 1st Ranger to take loss when walking only BF since Juan Alvarez on 7/28/02 vs. OAK.

FRISCO // Spent balance of season at Frisco, his 1st extended action at the Double-A level…finished 7-8, 3.79 (58 ER/137.2 IP) in 24 G/GS…had 1.140 WHIP and averaged 8.1 SO/9, as opponents batted just .228 (114-499)…established career highs for starts, innings, and strikeouts (124), also posted career highs in HR (23) and HR/9 (1.5)…led the RoughRiders in stirkeouts and was 3rd in innings…went 2-2, 3.12 (15 ER/43.1 IP) in 1st 7 starts through 5/12, then 5-6, 4.10 (43 ER/94.1 IP) in final 17 outings…pitched season-high 7.0 innings on 6 occasions, allowing one-or-zero runs in each contest, going 4-0 in those games…totaled 9 quality starts, with high game score of 78 coming both 4/25 at San Antonio (7.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R-0 ER) and 6/20 vs. Midland (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R)…permitted multiple HR 5 times, this after just one previous instance as a pro, including career-high 4 HR allowed on 4/30 at Corpus Christi.

2016

Recalled from Round Rock (AAA) on 9/2 near end of minor league season, he made 2 relief appearances for Texas to finish the year…made ML debut on 9/5 at SEA (1.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R-ER), and also pitched on 9/17 vs. OAK (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R-ER)… at 21 years, 232 days old, was youngest Rangers pitcher to make ML debut since Martin Perez (21.084 on 6/27/12 vs. DET).

2015

Spent the season with Hickory (A), going 3-3 with 3 saves and a 2.44 ERA (18 ER/66.1 IP) in 21 games/8 starts, establishing career bests in games and innings…had a 1.085 WHIP and averaged career-high 10.0 strikeouts per 9 innings…had career-best 74 K's against 15 BB…was 2-2, 2.94 (11 ER/33.2 IP) in 8 starts and 1-1, 1.93 (7 ER/32.2 IP) in 13 relief outings…opponents batted .230 (57-248), just .211 (15-71) by LHB…only HR allowed all year came in his final 2 outings, 8/23 at Greensboro and 9/1 at Delmarva… club's minor league reliever of the month for May, when he posted 16.2 scoreless innings over 8 relief outings in his 1st action of the season…was scoreless in 1st 11 G/one start overall spanning 24.1 innings, 1st runs allowed in start on 6/28 vs. Lakewood…selected for league All-Star Game on 6/23 in Asheville, allowing an unearned run in 0.2 IP to finish win for the North squad…started twice in Hickory's 6-game run to the South Atlantic League championship, going 1-1, 2.70 (3 ER/10.0 IP) with 2 BB and 13 SO… earned win on 9/17 at Asheville to finish a 3-game sweep in SAL final round.

2014

Limited to 10 G/9 GS with Hickory and AZL Rangers due to a nearly 4-month stay on the disabled list with left shoulder strain…combined to go 3-1, 2.70 (11 ER/36.2 IP) in 10 G/9 GS, career bests in WHIP (1.036) and SO/BB (8.75)…chosen as the SAL Pitcher of the Week for 4/14-20 after 6.0 scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts on 4/18 at Asheville… on Hickory DL, 4/24-8/21…made 3 rehab appearances with the AZL Rangers from 8/8-15.

2013

Limited to 8 starts with Spokane, spending the final month of the season on the disabled list…highest WHIP (1.440) in any pro season…was placed on disabled list 7/31 for remainder of the year with a left elbow sprain.

2012

Spent 1st professional season with DSL Rangers…tied for the team lead in starts, while recording the 3rd-lowest ERA on the staff…career-low 1.99 ERA, and allowed just one HR in 45.1 IP.

2011

Did not see official action after signing 1st professional contract on July 2.