Young Rangers pitcher Yohander Mendez surprised by big league call

Left-hander Yohander Mendez, 21, who was one of four callups in the clubhouse Friday, was savoring his first trip to the big leagues. He’s thrown a career-high 111 innings during stints at High A High Desert, Double A Frisco and Triple a Round Rock. He has a 0.57 ERA in 31 1/3 innings in seven games (four starts) for Round Rock. He credited the Rangers mini camp at Globe Life Park in January for helping him prepare.

“It’s something I wanted for my family and for me. It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I was very focused on what they told me. I followed the instructions and did the preparations at every single level. He learned two days ago in Omaha, Neb., that he was headed to the majors. He joined right-hander Nick Martinez, catcher Brett Nicholas and infielder Hanser Alberto who were part of the of first wave of callups. Another group will join the club on Tuesday in Seattle after Frisco and Round Rock conclude their seasons on Monday night.

“Of course I was surprised,” he said through Rangers Spanish broadcaster Eleno Ornelas. “To come here was something I expected at some point but not this year because I have too many innings and I was getting close to the limit.”

Rangers manager Jeff Banister said he’ll use Mendez judiciously this September. Mendez projects to be a major league starter but will work out of the bullpen this September and could be used in long relief.

“He’s got swing and miss secondary stuff,” Banister said. “He’s been pitching very well. We’ll get him out there at some point and see what he can do at the major league level. Give him a taste of what major league baseball is all about, it just so happens it’s in the middle of a pennant race.”

This story was originally published September 2, 2016 at 8:14 PM with the headline "Young Rangers pitcher Yohander Mendez surprised by big league call."