The Tigres del Licey team acquired the ambidextrous catcher from Major League Baseball Francisco Mejia from the Estrellas Orientales, to whom he loaned infielder Erick Mejía.
With this change, the 22-time national champions gain depth at the vital position of catcher, as well as add a hitter from both sides of the plate who has Major League experience and currently plays with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The transaction the announced today the general manager of the glorious blue team, Audo Vicente, through a note released by the Licey.com portal.
He stated that the change was approved by the president of the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Vitelio Mejía.
Vicente valued as a plus the integration of Mejía into the ranks of the Tigers due to his experience in the Major Leagues, where he has played eight seasons, three initials with the Cleveland Guardians, followed by three with the San Diego Padres and the last two with the Rays.
“With the arrival of Francisco we strengthen this position, we are adding a third native receiver who in turn strengthens our offense,” said Vicente.
Mejía, a native of Baní, 5’8” and 188 pounds, has played nearly every year in winter ball since making his first appearance in 2016-17 with the All-Stars except for the 2019-20 campaign.
With Tampa in 2019, he registered his best performance in his eight seasons in the Big Ten, seeing action in 84 games, took 315 at-bats, had 76 hits, averaged .249, in which he batted .260, had 65 hits, 15 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 35 RBIs, 31 runs scored and 17 walks.
In this new season with the Rays, batting 355 in 10 games, where he has shot 11 hits, two doubles, two four corner hitters and has driven in 10.
The Dominican catcher was the author of the fourth longest string of hit games in the minor leagues in the 2016 season with the Cleveland organization.
It was a historic 50-game feat for the switch-hitter, then a 20-year-old prospect for the Cleveland Guardians, who started on May 25 with the Lower Class A Lake County Captains and was stopped on August 13, playing for the Lynchburg Hillcats of Class A Advanced.
Francisco, originally signed by the Cleveland team in 2012, accumulates a career average of .295 in the Minor Leagues in 527 games, where he has connected 587 hits, 127 doubles, 15 triples, 276 runs scored, 58 homers and has driven in 325 with 143 received tickets. Also, he has hit more than 120 hits per season in five opportunities.
“We appreciate the time he gave us and we wish Erick the best of luck in his new team,” Vicente said through the Licey media.
Erick Mejía, 27, is a versatile infielder who has been in the Licey uniform for four seasons since being acquired from the Águilas Cibaeñas.