Cesar Mejia

Cesar Mejia

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 160 lb.

• Born October 10, 1966 in Azua, Azua D.R.

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Cesar Mejia was a prospect in the late 1980s. He began his professional career with the 1985 GCL Blue Jays and went 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA. He also pitched seven games that year for the Florence Blue Jays, getting no decision and having a 4.82 ERA; he struck out 19 in 19 innings but allowed 32 baserunners. He repeated in the South Atlantic League the next two seasons. In '86 Mejia was 9-7, 3.50 for Florence in 18 starts and 19 relief appearances. He was 11th in the SAL with 122 strikeouts. 1987 was his first big year, as Cesar went 7-4 with five saves and a 2.73 ERA for the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays. He was sixth in the league in ERA, though only third on his team, trailing Doug Linton and Pat Hentgen.

In the 1987 minor league draft, the Detroit Tigers plucked from Mejia from the Toronto system and the move paid off. After a 5-5 start, he finished the 1988 Eastern League season with nine wins in a row. On April 17 he no-hit the Albany Yankees as well. Overall he was 14-5, 2.43 for the Glens Falls Tigers. He led the EL in shutouts (4) and complete games (7, tied with Dave Eiland) and was second in ERA (the top starter, he trailed only reliever and teammate Paul Wenson) and wins (one behind thepace). He was named the right-handed pitcher on the EL All-Star team and also won Pitcher of the Year honors.

After the season was over, Mejia was a player to be named later in the deal that also brought Chris Hoiles from Detroit to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Fred Lynn. Mejia was 6-1 with a 3.68 ERA for the Hagerstown Suns but 3-6 with a 4.86 mark for the Rochester Red Wings.

For the fourth straight summer, Cesar switched systems. This time he was part of a trade with Keith Hughes to the New York Mets for Joaquin Contreras and John Mitchell. He was 6-3, 4.96 for the Tidewater Tides and 1-1, 10.61 for the St. Lucie Mets (presumably two rehab starts).

After four years out of baseball, Mejia pitched in 24 games for the 1995 Campeche Pirates of the Mexican League, posting a 4-6 record and a 4.85 ERA.

Overall, Mejia was 53-34 as a pro pitcher.

In 2006 Mejia was the pitching coach for the DSL Phillies

Sources include 1988-1991 Baseball Almanacs, 1991 Baseball Guide, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database and The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros

Related Sites

• 1988 Pitcher of the Year Eastern League Glens Falls Tigers