Pelicans All-Star Shortstop Headed to New York Yankees

Published on August 1, 2006 under American Association (AA)
Pensacola Pelicans News Release


The Pensacola Pelicans announced today that the New York Yankees have purchased the contract of shortstop Carlos Mendoza for the 2006 season.

Mendoza will report to the Florida State League High-A Tampa Yankees and is expected to start on Wednesday, August 2 against the Clearwater Threshers in Clearwater, Florida. He will join former Pelican's pitcher Edwar Ramirez who is also on the Tampa Yankees roster.

This is Mendoza's third season with the Pelicans after playing seven seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization in which he advanced to their Triple-A team, the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League.

"Carlos deserves this chance to get back into affiliated baseball," said Pelicans general manager Talmadge Nunnari. "He has proven himself the past couple seasons. There is no doubt in my mind he will succeed and contribute to the Yankees success."

The switch-hitting right-hander this season was third in the American Association with a .436 on base percentage and had the second best batting average on the Pelicans team and sixth best in the league hitting .346. Mendoza also led the Pelicans with 21 stolen bases and had 20 doubles, 3 homeruns, 34 RBI and 40 runs scored. He also represented the Pelicans in the 2006 All-Star Game as the starting shortstop for the American Association vs. the Can-Am League.

In the three-year span with the Pelicans from 2004-2006, Mendoza hit .318 with 61 doubles, 3 triples, 19 homeruns, 137 RBI, and scored 156 runs.

Mendoza becomes the second player this season and the fourteenth player in Pelicans history to be purchased and/ or sign with a Major League organization. He joins Clint Sodowsky, who signed with the Atlanta Braves this past June, Talmadge "T" Nunnari, Pete Della Ratta, Heath Kelly, Phil Devey, Matt Tindell, Josh Kranawetter, Andy Wilson, Joe Espada, Hunter Vick, Edwar Ramirez, Rafael Alvarez and Gerardo Casadiego.

The Pelicans will play at the Fort Worth Cats tonight and tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Fans will be able to listen to the game on AM 1620 and at www.pensacolapelicans.com. The Buffalo Rock pre game show with the "Voice of the Pelicans" Jay Burnham begins at 6:50 p.m.

The Pelicans will return home for a three game home stand vs. the Shreveport Sports on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. It is "Thirsty Thursday" with $1 domestic draft beer all night long. The Pelicans will play Shreveport on Friday at Pelican Park at 6:35 p.m. The first 1,500 fans will receive a Team Card Set of the Pelicans sponsored by Buffalo Rock Pepsi and the Pensacola News Journal.

The Pelicans will end the home stand on Saturday vs. the Shreveport Sports at 6:05 p.m. After the game, a Fireworks Extravaganza will take place sponsored by World Ford. After every home game, fans can get autographs of their favorite Pelican players.

Fans can purchase individual home game tickets in person at the Pelicans office located in Gulf Breeze at 913 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Suite 8A or at www.pensacolapelicans.com Fans can purchase group tickets, season tickets, birthday parties and corporate sponsorships by calling the Pelicans office at 934-8444.

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American Association Stories from August 1, 2006


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