The Arizona Diamondbacks released former Texas Longhorns star Ivan Melendez Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Melendez, an El Paso native and Coronado High School standout, spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Odessa College and became an instant star upon arriving on the Austin campus. The first baseman started 125 games for the Longhorns over two seasons, batting .356 with a .746 slugging percentage and hitting 45 home runs.
The former Longhorn was originally selected by the Miami Marlins in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB Draft but opted to spend another season with the Longhorns. Melendez returned with a vengeance, earning the nickname ‘Hispanic Titanic,’ slashing .387/.503/.863 with a school-record 32 home runs in a single season, two triples, and 18 doubles. He became the school’s first-ever Golden Spikes Award winner, doubling up by receiving the Dick Howser Trophy.
Melendez was drafted 43rd overall in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft and signed with the Diamondbacks for $1.4 million. In 2023, Melendez became the second player in franchise history to hit for the cycle while with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, and he finished the season with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles. He was promoted to the club’s Triple-A club, the Reno Aces, in August of the 2025 season.
Melendez finished the 2025 season with a .292 batting average, three home runs, one triple, and six doubles across 98 plate appearances (25 games) in Triple-A. He began this season on the “developmental list” due to an injury, returning to play on April 8, and hasn’t seen much success at the plate, owning a .658 OPS while hitting .222 with two home runs and one double in 50 plate appearances. Melendez went 2 for 7 with one home run and 5 RBI against the El Paso Chihuahuas, his hometown team, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to the El Paso Times, Melendez was scheduled to meet with El Paso media at 2 p.m. Thursday, but he was reportedly on a plane with the Double-A Sod Poodles. Instead, he was released and is now a free agent.
