Cristián Mendoza

Cristian Enrique Mendoza Castellón

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 160 lb.

• Born May 1, 1982 in Cartagena Colombia

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Cristian Mendoza spent over a decade as a minor league pitcher.

Mendoza debuted in 1999 with the DSL Yankees, going 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA. He fell to 3-4, 6.90 for the same club in 2000. In 2001, he pitched for the DSL Yankees (3-0, 0.00) and GCL Yankees (3 R, 8 K in 5 2/3 IP). The next season, the 20-year-old was 1-0 with four saves and a 2.29 ERA for the GCL Yankees (10 H in 19 2/3 IP) and gave up two runs in 2 2/3 IP for the Tampa Yankees.

Mendoza split 2003 between the Battle Creek Yankees (4-0, 2 Sv, 3.80, .200 opponent average, 28 BB in 47 1/3 IP) and Tampa (0-1, 2.82, .200 opponent average, 18 BB in 22 1/3 IP).

Let go by the Yanks, Cristian went to the independent leagues. In 2005, he was 1-1 with 21 saves and a 2.98 ERA for Les Capitales de Québec. He led the Canadian-American Association in saves and was named the circuit's All-Star relief pitcher. With the 2006 Capitales, he went 3-1 with 16 saves and a 2.12 ERA. He walked only 7 in 34 innings while fanning 40. He was third in the league in saves.

In 2007, Mendoza had a 1-3, 1.55 record with 7 saves for Québec. Moving to the Winnipeg Goldeyes in '08, he was 2-4 with 11 saves and a 3.80 ERA. The next year, he went 3-4 with a save and a 5.45 ERA for the Yuma Scorpions. Cristian helped the Colombian national team win the Silver Medal at the 2010 South American Games. He remained with the squad for the 2010 Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament, going 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA.

Mendoza made one appearance in the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, relieving Ivan Julio in the 4th of a scoreless game with Brazil. He allowed a Reinaldo Sato single, balked him over then gave up a two-out RBI single to Felipe Burin. In the 5th, after Colombia had tied it at one, he allowed another run on a Leonardo Reginatto double and a single by Yan Gomes. Rivar Angulo relieved Mendoza; Colombia went on to a 7-1 loss, Mendoza taking the defeat. He was with Colombia when they won the 2015 South American Championship to advance to the 2015 Pan American Games, their first Pan American Games baseball appearance during his lifetime.

In the 2015 Pan American Games, he was 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA in three games. Only Ronald Ramirez had a higher ERA for Colombia. He lost to Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico game was a real tough one for a Colombian squad that finished 0-6; in the 9th inning, with a 7-6 lead, he allowed a two-run homer to Anthony García.