Melián,represented by Scott Boras, [1] signed as an international free agent with the New York Yankees in 1996,receiving a $1.6 million signing bonus. [2] At the time,it was a record bonus for a Latin American prospect. [3] He was rated by Baseball America as a Top 100 prospect four times:in 1997 (#40),1998 (#98),1999 (#72) and 2000 (#72).
In 1997,Melián batted .263 with three home runs and 36 runs batted in (RBIs) for the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 1997. Melián played for the Greensboro Bats of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1998. He batted .255 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs. [4] Playing for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in 1999,Melián batted .283 with six home runs,61 RBIs,and 11 stolen bases. He also decreased his strikeouts from 120 to 98. In 2000,the Yankees assigned him to the Norwich Navigators of the Class AA Eastern League. He batted .252 with 69 strikeouts in 290 at bats. [5] Melián was selected to play in the 2000 All-Star Futures Game. [6]
In July 2000,the Yankees traded Melián,Drew Henson,Ed Yarnall,and Brian Reith to the Cincinnati Reds for Denny Neagle and Mike Frank. [7] He spent the remainder of the 2000 season and all of the 2001 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League. [5] In 2001,he batted .231 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs in 120 games. Prior to the 2002 season,the Milwaukee Brewers claimed Melián off of waivers from the Reds. [8] On June 9,2002,the Brewers traded Melián to the Chicago Cubs for Robert Machado. [9] He played for the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League [10] and Iowa Cubs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 2002 and 2003. [11] He signed with the Yankees as a minor league free agent prior to the 2004 season,but was traded to the Atlanta Braves on June 24. He joined the Detroit Tigers' organization in 2006,playing for the Erie SeaWolves of the Class AA Eastern League. [12] In 2008,he played for the Round Rock Express of the PCL in the Houston Astros' organization. [13]
In 2014,Melián returned to Venezuela where played for Caribes de Anzoátegui winning 3–2 against Tiburones de La Guaira. [14]
Melián's father,Vincent Melián,was a long-time scout for the Atlanta Braves and a lifelong fan of the Yankees. [2] He named Melián after Reggie Jackson. [2] His older brother,Jonathan,played in Minor League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners organization for three seasons. [3]
On August 27,1998,Melián's parents were killed in a car accident while following their son's team bus in Hickory,North Carolina. [15]
Melián considered pursuing an Olympic swimming career,instead opting to play baseball. [2] When he was 13 years old,he set Venezuelan and Central American records with a time of 24 seconds in the 50 metre freestyle. He could have competed for a spot in the 2000 Summer Olympics,but chose not to move to another city to train. [3]
Eric Scott Hinske is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder and first baseman. Hinske played in the major leagues from 2002 to 2013 with the Toronto Blue Jays,Boston Red Sox,Tampa Bay Rays,Pittsburgh Pirates,New York Yankees,Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks at third base,first base,left field,and right field. He won the 2002 AL Rookie of the Year Award with the Blue Jays. He has also been a coach for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels.
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Dominican former professional baseball left fielder and second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Texas Rangers,Washington Nationals,and Chicago Cubs,and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Carlos Alberto Martínez Escobar was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman and third baseman from 1988 to 1995 for the Chicago White Sox,Cleveland Indians and California Angels. Listed at 6' 5",175 lb.,he batted and threw right handed.
Ruppert Sanderson Jones is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder. He was the first player selected in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Donald Corey Patterson is an American former professional baseball center fielder. Currently,he is the manager of the Brookhaven Bucks in the Sunbelt Baseball League. He is the older brother of infielder Eric Patterson,and the son of former NFL defensive back Don Patterson.
Dioner Favian Navarro Vivas is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Los Angeles Dodgers,Tampa Bay Rays,Cincinnati Reds,Chicago Cubs,Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. With the Rays,Navarro was an All-Star in 2008.
Troy Franklin O'Leary is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played with the Milwaukee Brewers (1993-1994),Boston Red Sox (1995-2001),Montreal Expos (2002) and Chicago Cubs (2003).
Jerry Wayne Hairston Jr. is an American former professional baseball infielder and outfielder. He played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,Chicago Cubs,Texas Rangers,Cincinnati Reds,New York Yankees,San Diego Padres,Washington Nationals,Milwaukee Brewers,and Los Angeles Dodgers. He played every position except pitcher and catcher during his baseball career. He is the grandson of former major leaguer Sam Hairston,the son of former major leaguer Jerry Hairston Sr.,and the brother of Scott Hairston.
Gerald Floyd Williams was an American professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees,Milwaukee Brewers,Atlanta Braves,Tampa Bay Devil Rays,and New York Mets from 1992 to 2005.
JoséRosario Domec Cardenal is a Cuban American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1963 to 1980,most prominently as a member of the Chicago Cubs,with whom he established himself as a fan favorite for his powerful hitting and his strong throwing arm. He had the best seasons of his career in Chicago,posting career highs in home runs and batting average as a member of the Cubs.
Brendan Michael Harris is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs,Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals,Cincinnati Reds,Tampa Bay Devil Rays,Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The 2000 New York Yankees season was the 98th season for the Yankees. New York was managed by Joe Torre. The team finished first in the American League East with a record of 87–74,2.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox,after losing 15 of their final 18 games,including their last 7. Despite having the lowest winning percentage of any postseason qualifier in 2000,the Yankees won the World Series over the New York Mets in 5 games to win their 26th World Series title. They are,as of 2024,the last team to win World Series titles in consecutive years.
The 2000 Cincinnati Reds season was the 131st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League Central,although coming short in second place. They had a record of 85 wins and 77 losses. The Reds became only the second team in the modern era of baseball not be shut out for an entire season,joining the 1932 New York Yankees. The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers later accomplished this feat,but their season was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Julio Alberto Borbón is an American former professional baseball center fielder and current first base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,and Baltimore Orioles.
Austin Jarriel Jackson is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers,Seattle Mariners,Chicago Cubs,Chicago White Sox,Cleveland Indians,San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. Prior to playing professionally,he attended Billy Ryan High School.
Casey Michael McGehee is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Milwaukee Brewers,Pittsburgh Pirates,New York Yankees,Miami Marlins,San Francisco Giants,and Detroit Tigers. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and Yomiuri Giants.
Clint Jackson Frazier is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
William Landis McKinney is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Toronto Blue Jays,Milwaukee Brewers,New York Mets,Los Angeles Dodgers,Oakland Athletics,and Pittsburgh Pirates. McKinney was a first-round draft pick of the Athletics in 2013. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2014,and the Yankees in 2016. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2018,and was traded to the Blue Jays during the season,with whom he played for until 2020.
Harold Andrés Ramírez Lemus is a Colombian professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins,Cleveland Indians,Tampa Bay Rays,and Washington Nationals. Ramírez also represents the Colombian national team.
Garrett Nicholas Cooper is an American professional baseball first baseman and right fielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Miami Marlins,San Diego Padres,Chicago Cubs,and Boston Red Sox. Cooper was an All-Star in 2022.