MJ Melendez just made some serious noise in the minors, earning Player of the Week honors for the fourth time this season. That’s a huge deal: he’s the first minor league player in 2026 to hit that mark, and it triggered the legendary McNeil Rule. You know, the rule that kicks in when a player is just too darn good for too long, just like Jacob Reimer did last August. This latest weekly award for Melendez, Mervyl Samuel himself, isn’t just another trophy; it’s a massive statement about his push to the big leagues.
Melendez Domination and a Close Call
Over six games this past week, Melendez put on a show in Triple-A, slashing an insane .400/.429/.700 with eight hits in 20 at-bats. We’re talking three doubles, a solo shot, one walk, and five strikeouts. That’s a week that makes you sit up and pay attention! While his MLB numbers this season weren’t quite as loud, 56 games, 120 at-bats, a .192 average with four homers, his Triple-A season tells a different story: 64 games, 226 at-bats, hitting .257 with 18 home runs and 17 doubles. He’s clearly found his rhythm, and frankly, he’s probably getting tired of Triple-A pitching.
Now, shoutout to catcher Ryan Tayman, who had an absolutely monster week too. He blasted three homers and a double, logging five hits in just three games, with a ridiculous .500/.615/1.500 triple slash and a 2.115 OPS. Those are video game numbers! But here’s the kicker: he only played in three games. You gotta show up for the full grind to win Player of the Week, and Melendez did that. You can’t just drop a bomb for two days and expect to take the cake over someone who tore it up for six. Melendez earned this.
Gordon’s Comeback From a Rough Start
On the pitching side, R.J. Gordon finally delivered a start that reminds us why he was ranked 14th on the 2026 Amazin’ Avenue Top Prospect list. The right-hander threw six scoreless innings in Double-A, giving up just three hits, two walks, and fanning five. After a brutal start to 2026, he’s finishing things strong.
Remember, Gordon was cooking in 2025, with a 3.86 ERA across 67.2 innings with the Brooklyn Cyclones and a 3.69 ERA over 61.0 innings with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. But 2026 kicked off rough, landing him on the 7-Day Injured List with a lat injury, missing over a month. When he finally got back on the mound May 10th with Binghamton, it was a struggle. May saw him post an 8.38 ERA in 9.2 innings across four starts. June was only marginally better with a 7.50 ERA in 18.0 innings over five starts. But man, July was when he started getting his sea legs, throwing 27.0 innings in five starts with a 4.33 ERA. And August? He put together a rock-solid 2.17 ERA over 29.0 innings in five starts. The 2024 13th-round pick is finding his groove at the perfect time, and you love to see that kind of grit paying off late in the season.
So what’s next for these guys? Melendez, with his record-setting POTW wins and McNeil Rule invocation, is screaming for a full-time shot. And Gordon, after proving he can bounce back from injury and find his form, is showing that prospect ranking wasn’t just hype. You gotta watch these two as the season wraps up; they’re making a case for some serious attention come next year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
Leave a Reply