SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres have acquired catcher/outfielder Francisco Mejía from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for left-hander Brad Hand and right-hander Adam Cimber, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today.
Mejía, rated as the top prospect in the Indians system by Baseball America and No. 15 overall on MLB.com's Top 100 list, was batting .279 (85-for-305) with 22 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 45 RBI in 79 games for triple-A Columbus this season. Defensively, he has appeared in games at catcher (41 G), third base (1 G), left field (23 G) and right field (7 G) in 2018. The 22-year-old switch-hitter batted .455 (45-for-99) with a .476 OBP and a 1.193 OPS in the month of June for the Clippers, including 14 doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI. Named a 2018 International League mid-season All-Star, Mejía was selected to take part in his third MLB Futures Game this year as well, but had to withdraw after being promoted to the majors by the Indians on July 14.
Originally signed by Cleveland as an international free agent in 2012, the Bani, Dominican Republic native owns a lifetime .291 average in the minors with a .345 OBP, .789 OPS, 111 doubles, 12 triples, 47 home runs, 290 RBI and 240 runs scored in 478 games. Mejía posted a 50-game hitting streak in 2016, the longest in the Minor Leagues since 1963, spanning parts of four months and two levels. He was named the 2017 Eastern League Rookie of the Year and made his MLB debut last September. Mejía has appeared in 12 Major League games, collecting two singles, one RBI and three walks.