Tommy Mendoza

Thomas Mendoza

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 215 lb.
• High School Monsignor Edward Pace High School

• Born August 18, 1987 in Hialeah, FL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Tommy Mendoza peaked at AAA.

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 4th round of the 2005 amateur draft, one round after they took Brian Matusz and one round before Jeremy Moore. He was signed by scout Mike Silvestri and made his pro debut that summer, doing very well for the AZL Angels (3-3, 1.55, 56 K in 52 1/3 IP) and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1-0, 0 R, 4 H, 12 K in 10 IP). He was second in the Arizona League in ERA Behind Ernesto Frieri. Baseball America listed him as the AZL's 16th-best prospect, between Ramon Alvarado and Sammy Baez. Moving up to the full-season Cedar Rapids Kernels at age 18, he went 11-6 with a 4.17 ERA, with 134 K to 32 walks in 170 2/3 innings. He tied Luke French, Chi-Hung Cheng and Jared Lansford for 7th in the Midwest League in wins, was third in innings (behind Erik Averill and Burke Badenhop and tied for 7th in strikeouts. Baseball America rated him as the #10 Angels prospect.

He struggled in 2007 with Cedar Rapids (2-4, 4.86, .307 batting average against) and the AZL Angels (1-0, 3 UER in 5 IP), battling a shoulder injury. He was only 4-12 with a 4.73 ERA for the 2008 Quakes, striking out just 50 in 110 1/3 innings. He tied Wes Roemer, Eddie Romero and Tim Sexton for the most losses in the California League. In '09, he looked resurgent with the Arkansas Travelers (7-7, 3.36) and Salt Lake Bees (2-1, 2.91). Only Alexander Torres and Will Smith had more wins by an Angels minor leaguer that campaign.

Mendoza also split 2010 between Arkansas (1-1, 3.44) and Salt Lake (0-4, 8.89, .375 opponent average). He was released by the Angels prior to the 2011 season and signed with the independent Joliet Slammers. He had a 6-2, 3.99 record for Joliet in 2011.