Former Wrangler Baseball Player Ivan Melendez Returns to the Permian Basin
Former Wrangler Baseball standout Ivan Melendez will be back in the Permian Basin this week as the Amarillo Sod Poodles take on the Midland Rockhounds in a six-game series this week.
Melendez was a member of the Wrangler baseball team from 2019-20. In his time at Odessa, he was name NJCAA All-American and First Team All-Region and All-Conference.
After Odessa, Ivan transferred to the University of Texas where he was the 2022 Gold Spikes Award Winner.
He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round, 43rd overall in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Melendez opened the season with the Hillsboro Hops, the High-A affiliate of the D-Back where he hit .270 with 61 hits, 18 homeruns and 43 RBIs. The 18 homeruns Melendez hit broke the single season homerun record for the Hops.
Ivan was called up to Double A Amarillo after the All-Star Break and has made an immediate impact on the Sod Poodles lineup. In just seven games, he is hitting over .300 with six homeruns and 8 RBI's in only 26 at bats. He has homered in multiple games twice since his arrival in Amarillo.
The series between the Sod Poodles and Rockhounds runs from Tuesday July 25th through Sunday July 30th at Momentum Bank Ballpark in Midland Texas.
Tickets can be purchased at the Rockhounds box office or online at https://www.milb.com/midland/tickets