Víctor Mendoza (minors)

Víctor Hugo Mendoza

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.

• Born November 30, 1990 in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora Mexico

BR register page

Biographical Information

Víctor Mendoza has played in Mexico and for the Mexican national team.

He debuted in the winter of 2012-2013, going 2 for 16 with a run, two RBI and 8 strikeouts for the Cañeros de Los Mochis. His summer debut came in 2013 with the Sultanes de Monterrey; he hit .246/.298/.408 and fielded .996 as a backup first baseman. He was a solid bench player in 2014 (.308/.381/.432) then hit .286/.423/.500 in the winter for the Águilas de Mexicali. As a 1B/OF for the 2015 Sultanes, he had a .268/.326/.350 batting line followed by a .246/.338/.344 winter for the Mayos de Navojoa. His playing time dropped with Monterrey in 2016 (.247/.321/.433 in 49 G) and he had a rough winter in terms of contact though showed good pop (.214/.328/.464, 8 of his 12 hits going for extra bases).

Still a bench player at age 26, he hit a whopping .355/.385/.710 for Monterrey in 2017. That wasn't enough to win regular time the next year as he hit .395/.465/.658 in 15 games in the spring season (the Mexican League tried a two-season format that year) and .347/.413/.528 in 26 contests in the fall. He finally won a regular job in 2018-2019 and responded with a .323/.418/.511 line and fielding .997 for Navojoa, with 15 doubles and 6 homers in 53 games. He tied for 3rd in the Mexican Pacific League in two-baggers, tied Leo Heras for 9th with 29 walks and was 4th in OPS (between Leandro Castro and Francisco Peguero). He reinforced the Charros de Jalisco for the 2019 Caribbean Series and was a welcome addition as he hit .375/.375/.563 with five RBI in four games; he had a four-hit, four-RBI game against Venezuela, going deep off Elvis Araujo. He tied for 5th in the Series in hits, tied Elmer Reyes and Alfredo Despaigne for the RBI lead and was named the event's All-Star first baseman.

Mendoza became Monterrey's starter in 2019 and remained hot with a .375/.473/.658 batting line, 98 runs, 36 doubles, 26 homers, 101 RBI and 78 walks. He trailed only Daniel Mayora and Peguero in average, was 9th in runs, ranked 6th in hits, trailed only Mayora and Samar Leyva in doubles, was 10th in RBI, led in OBP (.009 ahead of Moisés Sierra) and was among the leaders in slugging and OPS as well. His hot run finally cooled that winter when he hit .230/.331/.349 for Navojoa. After the 2020 Mexican League season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he split the winter between Navojoa (.209/.370/.233) and his hometown Yaquis de Obregón (.330/.425/.433 in 26 G). He joined the Tomateros de Culiacán for the 2021 Caribbean Series; backing up Efren Navarro at first base, he was 1-for-7 with 3 walks, two runs and a RBI.

The Obregón native hit .365/.441/.610 for Monterrey in 2021, then had a fine winter for his hometown Yaquis (.352/.405/.561, 10 HR in 51 G). He lost the batting title to Tirso Ornelas, was third in homers, tied for 6th in RBI and edged out Kyle Martin for the OPS lead. He reinforced Jalisco for the 2022 Caribbean Series but was 3-for-15 with a double and a RBI. Back with the Sultanes the next summer, he batted .313/.406/.543 with 15 homers in 86 contests, driving in 61 and drawing 45 walks. He hit .283/.368/.430 for the 2022-2023 Yaquis, with 50 RBI in 67 games. He was second in the LMP in RBI, 7 behind Yasmany Tomás.

With the 2023 Sultanes, he batted .344/.415/.576 with 27 doubles and 73 RBI in 75 contests. He tied Peter O'Brien for 4th in the LMB in doubles and was 5th in RBI (between Martin and Jonathan Villar). He also played for Mexico in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, starting at first base. He hit cleanup in their opener against Cuba, retired by Carlos Juan Viera his first time up. His first hit came off Nicaragua's Fidencio Flores. He had a 3-hit game against Venezuela and hit .333/.444/.333 with five RBI in five games, playing error-free defense as Mexico won its first baseball Gold in the Central American and Caribbean Games, 97 years after the first of several Silver Medals. He tied for 7th in the Games in RBI.

The veteran hit .310/.398/.522 for the 2024 Monterrey club. He then was named to Mexico's roster for the 2024 Premier 12.