Alex Mejia

Alejandro DeJesus Mejia (born January 18, 1991) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats, winning the 2012 College World Series. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Not to be confused with Alexander Mejía.

Alex Mejia
Mejia with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017
Acereros de Monclova – No. 9
Infielder
Born: (1991-01-18) January 18, 1991
Sylmar, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 2017, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Batting average.109
Home runs1
Runs batted in3
Teams

Career

Amateur career

Mejia attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California,[1] and the University of Arizona. Playing college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats, Mejia became the team's starting shortstop as a freshman. He was named the 2012 Pac-12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year,[2] and was a member of the 2012 College World Series champions.

Mejia with Arizona at the 2012 College World Series

St Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Mejia in the fourth round, with the 150th overall selection, of the 2012 MLB draft.[2] He signed with the Cardinals, receiving a $250,000 signing bonus,[3] and made his professional debut with the Batavia Muckdogs of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League.[4] He tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a July 31 game with the Muckdogs.[5] Mejia played for the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League and the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in 2013. He began the 2014 season with Palm Beach, and was promoted to the Springfield Cardinals of the Class AA Texas League in July.[6] He began the 2015 season with Springfield,[7] and was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League during the season.[8]

Mejia began the 2017 season with Springfield, and was promoted to Memphis. On June 28, the Cardinals promoted Mejia to the major leagues.[9] He made his debut the following day, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, when he started at second base and batted eighth, where he went 0-for-2 before being pinch hit for. He had first major league hit and home run against the Washington Nationals on July 1, 2017.[10] He was outrighted to Memphis on November 6, 2017.

Mejia spent all of 2018 with Memphis, compiling a .273 batting average with four home runs and 35 RBIs in 108 games.[11] He helped lead Memphis to the 2018 Triple-A National Championship Game, where they defeated the Durham Bulls 14-4.[12] Mejia was named the MVP of the game after going five-for-five with five RBIs.[13] He elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Acereros de Monclova

On January 24, 2019, Mejia signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League for the 2019 season.[14] He played in 93 games for a Monclova that year, slashing .350/.393/.496 with 9 home runs, 67 RBI, and 3 stolen bases. Mejia did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

Mejia appeared in 50 contests for the Acereros during the 2021 season, and posted a .313/.330/.400 slash to pair with 2 home runs, 31 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. In 2022, he appeared in 81 games, and markedly improved upon the year before, hitting .366/.389/.527 with 8 home runs, 59 RBI, and 3 stolen bases.[16]

Personal life

Mejia's father, Carlo, was named an All-American while playing college baseball for Pepperdine University in 1975, and played professionally in the Mexican League.[1] Mejia has three siblings; his two older sisters and his cousin, played college softball for Long Island University.[17]

References
  1. Ryan Finley Arizona Daily Star (April 23, 2010). "Glove affair: Dad helps Mejia become big-play shortstop". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  2. "Alex Mejia's body of work leads Arizona". ESPN.com. June 23, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  3. Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star (July 2012). "Arizona baseball: Alex Mejia signs deal with St. Louis Cardinals". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  4. "Ex-Cat Mejia gets first pro hit – UA Wildcats baseball". TucsonSentinel.com. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  5. "Ex-Arizona Wildcat Alex Mejia tears ACL in minor-league game". tucsoncitizen.com. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  6. "Aledmys Diaz on DL again, Mejia promoted from Palm Beach to Springfield". bnd. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  7. Jim Connell, News-Leader (April 10, 2015). "It's 'have glove, will travel' for these Cardinals". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  8. Lee Enterprises (July 15, 2015). "Gordon: Cards' shortstop quest continues". stltoday.com. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  9. Hummel, Rick (June 28, 2017). "Cardinals option Diaz to Memphis; infielder Mejia called up | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  10. Langosch, Jenifer. "Wacha, Cards beat Nationals to earn series win". MLB.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  11. "Alex Mejia Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  12. https://www.oaoa.com/sports/article_b87d86e6-575f-57ec-9884-044a79178e7e.html
  13. "Mejia goes 5 for 5 with 5 RBIs as Memphis rolls to Triple-A title". September 19, 2018.
  14. "Alex Mejía jugará con Acereros" (in Spanish). January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  15. "Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season". July 2020.
  16. "Acereros: Novedades en el campamento de la Furia Azul".
  17. Ryan Finley Arizona Daily Star (June 19, 2012). "Arizona baseball: 'Omaha or bust': Parents share Mejia's joy". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
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