Former Odessa College baseball standout Ivan Melendez has been promoted to the Amarillo Sod Poodles, according to a report from MiLB Central on Monday.
The former Wrangler and Texas superstar received the call to the Sod Poodles, the Double-A affiliate for the Arizona Diamondbacks, after a strong start with the Hillsboro Hops in the High-A level.
Melendez spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons at Odessa College where he was named NJCAA All-American third baseman his freshman season and was named First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference.
He continued to dominate after transferring to Texas where he capped his collegiate career with the 2022 Golden Spikes Awarrd, the first in Texas Baseball history and swept the national player of the year awards.
Melendez was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the second round with the 43rdoverall pick in last year’s MLB Draft.
His batting average with the Hops was .270, registering 61 hits, 18 home runs and 43 RBIs.
The Sod Poodles are currently 42-39 overall in the Texas League with the second half of the season now underway.
Melendez will get a chance to return to the Permian Basin later this month when Amarillo faces Midland in a six-game series beginning July 25 at Momentum Bank Ballpark.
