MENDONCA PROMOTED TO BAKERSFIELD

The former Fresno State third baseman moves up from the Spokane Indians of short season ‘A’ ball.

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer:

Tom Mendonca still strikes out a lot.

But that still hasn’t stopped him from getting promoted.

The former Bulldog and current Texas Rangers farmhand was promoted to high single ‘A’ ball, right in his backyard. Mendonca is now with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League, the same league the Visalia Rawhide play in. Mendonca will be in uniform for the Blaze tonight against the Modesto Nuts in Modesto, which is about 20 minutes from his hometown of Turlock. The Rangers have allowed Mendonca to stay with his parents during the four game series.

Mendonca won’t be traveling far after that. The Blaze play up the 99 freeway at Stockton for three more games September 1-3.

Mendonca was batting .309 for Spokane, with a team leading nine home runs and 26 RBI in 49 games. He struck out 66 times in 188 at-bats, which means he struck out 35 percent of the time. But his improvement at the plate average-wise and power helped get him promoted, not to mention his solid defense at the hot corner.

“You set yourself goals and my goal was to get to Bakersfield by the end of the year,” Mendonca said. “I did, and playing in Modesto is always a bonus. Now the next goal is to make it to Double-A, or start off in Double-A next year in Frisco (Texas).”

Not bad just three months after being drafted in the second round by the Rangers.

The Blaze will return to Bakersfield to play Rancho Cucamonga September 4-7 to wrap up the regular season.

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