Kansas City Royals rookies Witt and Melendez reflect on influence of their fathers

Kansas City Royals rookies Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez certainly look like foundational pieces for the franchise. They’ve undoubtedly shown flashes of elite talent and ability.

They potentially represent the next generation of the franchise, poised to take the mantle from mainstays and fan favorites like Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield.

They’re also the next generation in another manner of speaking.

The top two prospects in the Royals farm system entering this season — they’ve graduated off of the prospect lists — also carry the names of their fathers, men who molded them, passed down their love for baseball and continue to have prominent voices in their careers as they’ve reached the big leagues.

Prior to the Royals’ series finale against the Oakland Athletics, Witt reflected on the influence of his father and former major-league pitcher, Bob Sr., and Melendez reflected on the influence of his father and longtime college baseball coach Mervyl Sr.

Witt follows in his father’s footsteps

Witt’s father spent parts of three seasons 1992-94 with the Athletics before the younger Witt was born.

During this weekend’s series, Witt has heard from clubhouse guys and grounds crew members who remember Bob Sr. and praised the way he treated him during his time in Oakland.

In some cases this season, Witt said he’s even had umpires ask about his father.

“We pretty much talk after every game,” Witt said of his father. “Whether it was good, whether it was bad. We either talk about the game or not talk about the game. I always call him after the game and just talk to him and my mom. That’s kind of how I’ve always done things.”

Witt, a five-tool shortstop, and his father became the highest-drafted father-son combination in Major League Baseball history when the Royals selected the high school shortstop from Texas with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Bob Sr. went No. 3 overall in 1985 to the Texas Rangers.

What were Witt’s first baseball memories involving his father?

“I’d say just kind of playing ball in the house, even though my mom always said not to,” Witt said. “Then just him being a coach of mine growing up. So I think those two would be the fondest memories I can remember.”

Witt, 22, broke into the majors this season and began the season on the big-league roster. MLB.com ranked him the top prospect in baseball during spring training.

He played his first series against the Rangers in Texas last month in front of friends and family, and the series happened to fall on his father’s birthday.

Bob Sr. played for the Rangers from 1986-92 and from 1995-98 over the course of what turned out to be a 16-year career in the majors. His final season in the majors, 2001, came one year after his son was born.

“He’s the reason for me being here, going each and every day,” Witt said. “He was always there. He pushed me hard, wanted me to be the best that I can because he knew that I would do it.”

MJ the coaches’ kid

Melendez, a left-handed hitting catcher who led Minor League Baseball in home runs last season, grew up watching his father coach baseball.

Mervyl Sr.’s coaching stops have included 12 seasons as head coach at Bethune-Cookman, five seasons as head coach at Alabama State and six seasons as head coach at Florida International University prior to him stepping down following this season.

“My first memory was probably just watching him coach and being on the field with him as he coached college baseball,” Melendez said. “For me, that was something that was a very big part of my life growing up. That was probably one of my earliest memories.

“Then, obviously, growing up with him coaching me was a big part of my baseball development as well.”

If not for the Royals selecting Melendez in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, he’d likely have gone to FIU to play for his father.

“In that moment of time, he was just a father,” Melendez said. “He wanted me to sign. He wanted me to do what was best for me. What was best for me was to sign. I think we’re both really, really happy with how it came out. With the Royals, I think it was the best situation possible.

“Yeah, it would have been amazing to play for him. I really wish I would have been able to do that, but I think we’re both really happy with how things turned out.”

Despite skipping college to play professionally, Melendez said his father’s influence on the way he plays the game is undeniable.

“I think being around college baseball and seeing how he coaches taught me about trying to do all the little things right and trying to have all the intangibles possible,” Melendez said. “Especially whenever I’m catching, I feel like it’s a big part.”

Melendez also mentioned moving around and his father coaching at three different schools having helped him prepare for professional baseball in the respect of having to adjust to new environments and being ready to adapt quickly whether that be to new teammates, different levels or playing different positions.

Melendez has also credited his father as well as his mother as being sounding boards and providing support when he endured the worst professional season of his career in 2019.

His struggles that season — a slash line of .163/.260/.311 — caused him to drop in the prospect rankings until he turned in a stellar 2021 season.

As far as him being a big league player today, he has no doubt the importance of his father’s influence.

“It’s him and my mom, of course, with all the stuff off the field,” Melendez said. “But I’d say with on the field, physically baseball stuff, I give all the credit to him. Because without him, I definitely wouldn’t be the kind of player I am today.”

This story was originally published June 19, 2022 at 5:06 PM.