Minor Leagues Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
The Beloit Blue Sox have named SP Felipe Méndez as their Pitcher of the Year for the 2041 season.
Felipe Méndez
News of the team honor came within hours of Méndez learning that he’d been named the Donaldo Subleague Todd Demko Hurler Award winner for the season.
“Nice, huh?” Méndez, who’s not reputed to be the sharpest blade in the drawer, said after learning of the award. “Guess I did good!”
The 23-year-old Costa Rican native joined the Black Sox organization in 2040 as an 8th round draft pick out of college. He posted an excellent debut season with the Monclova Aqua Sox that year, going 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 14 starts.
He originally had been expected to pitch in Class A Grand Junction this season, but was promoted after just one start for the Gold Sox when Beloit’s expected staff ace Andresa Frederico went down for 4 months with a torn labrum.
Méndez made the most of his opportunity, making the All-Star team and then the Demko award.
The BBA Scouting Consortium is still unconvinced that he has what it takes to succeed in the majors. Scouts grade him as 5/6 for his stuff; 2/2 for his pitch movement; and 5/5 for control.
“He manages with average stuff, despite his flyball tendencies that can lead to home runs, and occasional lapses in control,” his scouting report says. “Méndez’s ceiling might be that of a back-end rotation piece, or possibly just a spot starter.”
“That’s not very nice,” Méndez said. “I’m better than that, right?”
Hard to say, said Chicago Asst. GM Bill McGuffin.
“Felipe has certainly pitched well for us, but those skill ratings are a little rough,” he said. “We’re going to give him the fall and winter off to rest his arm and maybe send him back to get his GED, and then see how he does in AAA next year. Who knows? Maybe he’ll surprise everyone!”