Ivan Melendez inks deal with Arizona Diamondbacks, other Longhorn draft notes
After a 2022 campaign that saw him take home the first Golden Spikes Award in Texas Longhorns history, Ivan Melendez has signed his deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Melendez, who also won the 2022 Dick Howser Trophy, was selected No. 43 overall by the D-Backs and was the first Longhorn taken in the draft. Melendez signed for $1.4 million. His slot value was $1,818,500, per MLB Pipeline.
Melendez was one of eight Longhorns selected in the 2022 MLB draft. Pitcher Pete Hansen was selected with the No. 97 pick by the St. Louis Cardinals. Catcher Silas Ardoin was selected in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles. The O’s weren’t finished selecting Longhorns, taking outfielder Douglas Hodo III in the sixth round.
Shortstop Trey Faltine was taken in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Reds. Utilityman Murphy Stehly heard his named called by the Washington Nationals in the 10th round. Reliever Jared Southard was picked up by the Los Angeles Angels in the 12th round. Transfer third baseman Skyler Messinger was the final Longhorn drafted, with the Colorado Rockies taking him in the 19th round.
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Two Longhorns also joined organizations via the free agent route. Tristan Stevens signed with the Miami Marlins, and Marcus Olivarez inked a deal with the Kansas City Royals.
The Longhorns’ 2022 class also had three players selected.
Bakersfield (Calif.) Liberty IF/RHP Cutter Coffey was taken by the Boston Red Sox with the No. 41 pick. He signed for $1.85 million, just under his slot value of $1.9 million. Palo Alto (Calif.) OF Henry Bolte was taken in the second round by the Oakland Athletics. He signed for $2 million, well over his slot value of $1.342 million. Prosper (Texas) Rock Hill OF/RHP Brenner Cox was taken in the fourth round by the Nationals, and signed for $1 million. His slot value was just under $550,000.
Texas just completed a 2022 campaign that saw the Longhorns end the season at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Texas lost games versus Notre Dame and Texas A&M to end the year. Texas advanced past East Carolina University in the Greenville, N.C. super regional to make the CWS. The Longhorns were 47-22 on the season and 14-10 in Big 12 Conference play.
