Daniel Mendelsohn

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 187 lb.

• Born February 9, 1998 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

Biographical Information

Daniel Mendelsohn has pitched in the Bundesliga and for the German national team and South African national team.

He debuted with the Regensburg Legionäre in 2015, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA. In the 2016 European Champions Cup, he got Regensburg's opening win, relieving Mike Bolsenbroek with a 4-2 deficit against Kotlarka Prague and pitching three shutout innings as his team rallied. In the 2016 European Junior Championship, he saved Niklas Rimmel's 2-1 win over France and got the win against the Czechs (saved by Yannic Wildenhain). He allowed no runs and fanned 5 in 3 1/3 IP. He was 1-0 with a save and a 1.10 ERA in the Bundesliga, striking out 19 in 16 1/3 IP.

Mendelsohn had a hard time in the 2017 European Champions Cup, giving up 11 hits and 11 runs (9 earned) in 3 1/3 IP; Regensburg was winless as the host. He had a team-high 6.75 ERA for Germany in the 2017 European Championship U23; future Twins signee Rimmel was next at 5.88. He got the win over Slovakia and Michal Puškár. He had a 1-3, 4.60 record in the Bundesliga.

The right-hander allowed one hit, two walks and four unearned runs in 2/3 of an inning in the 2018 Haarlem Baseball Week. He was 1-0 with two saves and a 1.33 ERA in the '18 Bundesliga, tying for 4th in saves in the Bundesliga-1 South. He slumped to 2-1, 8.10 in 2019, walking 21 in 20 innings. He allowed 3 runs in 3 2/3 IP in 2020.

Moving to the minor league Füssen Royal Bavarians in 2021, he was 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA and hit .269/.321/.423. In the Bundesliga-2 southeast, he was 7th in ERA and 6th in K (46). He was one of two players from the German minors to make the German team in the 2021 European Championship along with Lucas Traut. He made one appearance, relieving Enorbel Márquez with a 10-1 lead over Sweden in the 6th inning. He allowed a leadoff double to Joel Johnson, who took third on a fly from his brother Daniel Johnson. Thomas Paulich drew a walk and Niklas Melin's fly made it 10-2. Paulich was then caught stealing. After Germany scored three in the bottom of the 6th, Mendelson got Linus Sjölund looking at strike three. Peter Johannessen doubled, but Daniel recovered to retire Markus Melendez and strike out August Mattsson. The game ended then due to the mercy rule.

Mendelsohn was 0-1 with two runs in two innings in the 2021 U-23 Baseball World Cup, losing to South Korea. He walked six. He was 8-2 with a 3.30 ERA for the 2022 Royal Bavarians, batting .293/.508/.366 and playing 2B, 3B, SS and LF in addition to pitcher. In the Bundesliga-2 Southeast, he was 5th in ERA, 3rd in K, 2nd in wins and 3rd in WHIP. In the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he suited up for South Africa for the first time on the international stage. He was their only hurler to appear in both of their games. Against Spain, he relieved Jared Elario with a 5-2 deficit in the 7th, one on and two outs. He retired Lesther Galván to end the inning then had a 1-2-3 9th against former minor leaguers Gabriel Lino and Oscar Angulo and former major leaguer Engel Beltre. South Africa closed it to 5-4 but fell short. Against his former German teammates, he did not fare as well. It was 2-2 entering the bottom of the 6th. After Kevin Townend allowed three baserunners and one run in already, Daniel took over. Cody Schultz bunted one back to him but he made a run-scoring error and Kevin Kotowski singled in a run. Robert Lewis-Walker replaced him but let both runners in; Germany made it a rout with a 7-run frame.

Interestingly, he is one of three players born in South Africa on February 9, 1998 to be notable in baseball - Victor Ngoepe played in the minors and both Ngoepe and Tyler Croft has been on the South African national team. Ngoepe was his teammate in the 2022 WBC Qualifiers.