MJ Melendez is among six Royals players scheduled to exchange proposed arbitration salaries with the team on January 9, indicating his ongoing role in the team's future plans.

MJ Melendez is currently positioned as the left fielder for the Royals, but the team views Taylor Ward as a significant upgrade over him. This suggests that Melendez may not have fully established himself as a reliable option in that role, prompting the Royals to seek improvements in their outfield.

MJ Melendez has shown flashes of power potential but struggled with consistency in 2024, finishing the season with a disappointing .206 batting average and a .673 OPS. Despite his ability to make hard contact, as indicated by a 90.1 mph average exit velocity, he struck out over a quarter of the time and had a 29.5 percent whiff rate. At just 25 years old, Melendez still possesses considerable talent, but the challenge remains in translating that talent into more consistent performance.

MJ Melendez struggled to provide the offensive punch needed in the Royals' outfield during the 2024 season. His performance, along with Tommy Pham's, contributed to the team's inability to compete with stronger outfield lineups like those of the Yankees. As the Royals look to improve their outfield for the upcoming season, Melendez's lack of production highlights the need for a more impactful addition.

MJ Melendez hit a grand slam against Treinen in a game on June 15, contributing to a loss for the Dodgers. This moment marked a rough patch for Treinen, who struggled during that period before regaining his dominant form later in the season.