Daniel Mengden

Daniel Joseph Mengden

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
• School Texas A&M University
• High School Westside High School (Houston)
• Debut June 11, 2016

• Born February 19, 1993 in Houston, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Daniel Mengden was a 4th round selection by the Houston Astros in the 2014 amateur draft, out of Texas A&M University. The scout was Noel Gonzales-Luna. After signing, he made his debut that same year by pitching 6 games between the GCL Astros and Tri-City ValleyCats, going 0-0 with a 3.27 ERA in 11 innings. In 2015, he began the season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League, where he was 4-1, 1.16 in 8 games. In late May, he moved up to the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League and was 2-1, 5.26 after 10 games when on July 23rd, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics along with C Jacob Nottingham in return for major league starter Scott Kazmir. He finished the year with 8 starts for the Stockton Ports, still in the California League, going 4-2, 4.25. For the year, his combined record was 10-4, 3.72 with 125 Ks in 130 2/3 innings between the three stops.

Mengden was called up by the A's on June 11, 2016, to make his debut starting against the Cincinnati Reds. He had begin the season in AA with the Midland RockHounds but was promoted to the AAA Nashville Sounds on May 2nd after going 2-0, 0.78 in 4 starts in the Texas League. He was 3-1, 1.39 in 7 starts for Nashville when he got the call to the Show. In his debut, he gave up only 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings, but one of the hits was a two-run homer by Jay Bruce, saddling him with a 2-1 loss in spite of a solid performance. He recorded his first career shutout on September 15, 2017, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-0; he also collected his first career hit in that game. In February 2019, Mengden and some friends rescued two puppies who were trapped in a sewer drain and made local news in Houston for doing so. He adopted one of the puppies that he saved. He went to Korea to play for the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization in 2021, before returning to the United States and signing with the Kansas City Royals. He played for the Royals briefly in 2022, and remained in their organization until he was released on June 27, 2023. On July 2nd, he signed with the Washington Nationals. He elected free agency on November 6th.

Mengden has been compared to his childhood idol Dontrelle Willis because his delivery includes a high leg kick that is very disconcerting for opposite hitters. During his time in Oakland, he was frequently compared to Rollie Fingers, due to his unique handlebar moustache. When asked if he was trying to be like Fingers he said that he actually had the moustache before he was even with the Athletics, and that he actually grew it in 2013 to prove a point after his coach at Texas A&M told everyone on the team that they were incapable of growing facial hair, and has kept it ever since.

Notable Achievements

• AL Shutouts Leader (2018)

Related Sites

• Daniel Mengden on mlb.com
• BR Minors page