Tommy Mendonca
Third baseman
Born: (1988-04-12) April 12, 1988
Turlock, California
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World University Championship
Gold medal – first place 2008 Brno National team
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2011 Guadalajara National team

Thomas Wilkey Mendonca (born April 12, 1988) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. Mendonca won the 2008 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a sophomore at Fresno State University.

Amateur career

Mendonca attended Turlock High School.[1] In 2006, he hit .429 with six home runs.

He attended Fresno State University and played college baseball for the Bulldogs.[2] In 67 games with Fresno in 2007, Mendonca hit .281 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI. In 77 games in 2008, he hit .285 with 19 homers and 70 RBI. Mendonca was on the 2008 Bulldogs College World Series winning team, and was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player.[3]

Professional career

Mendonca was drafted in the second round (62nd overall) by the Texas Rangers in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He began his professional career in 2009, playing for the Low Single-A Spokane Indians (49 games) and High Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (11 games), hitting a combined .290 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 60 games. In 2010, he hit .248 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI in 120 games for the Blaze and in 2011, he hit .278 with 25 home runs, 78 RBI and 160 strikeouts in 125 games for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. He split the 2012 campaign between the RoughRiders (28 games) and Round Rock Express (63 games), hitting a combined .229 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI in 91 games.[5]

Mendonca was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the Triple-A phase of the 2012 Rule 5 draft.[6][7] Oakland released Mendonca in April 2013, without him appearing in a game for their organization.[5] He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on a minor league deal on May 11, and played for the Reading Fightin Phils until he was released on June 6, 2013.[5]

He signed with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League and finished the 2013 season with them. He played with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association in 2014, 2015, and 2016. He played for the Lincoln Saltdogs in 2017. In 2018, he split the season between the Winnipeg Goldeyes and the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks.[5]

Personal

His uncle, Robert Mendonca, played in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Brandon McClintock (August 25, 2011). "Texas Rangers Prospect Tommy Mendonca Turning Heads in Texas League". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  2. ↑ Wayne Cavadi (June 5, 2019). "The story behind 2008 Fresno State baseball, the greatest College World Series Cinderella". NCAA. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  3. ↑ Tim Gray (June 16, 2017). "Now with the Saltdogs, Mendonca reflects on Fresno State's CWS Cinderella run". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  4. ↑ Adam J. Morris (June 17, 2011). "The Tommy Mendonca Watch". Lone Star Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Tommy Mendonca Player Page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Oakland drafts Mendonca".
  7. ↑ Reports, Bee Staff. "Oakland A's add Turlock's Mendonca via Rule-5 draft". modbee.
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