Ivan Melendez Appreciation Thread

[BWilk55]

The Hispanic Titanic is having perhaps the best offensive season in Texas baseball history. He is also leading across numerous NCAA offensive categories and will be a strong contender for the Dick Howser (5th for Texas - Scott Bryant, Brooks Kieschnick x2, Jungman) and Golden Spikes Awards (1st for Texas). 

Current NCAA ranks - HRs 1st, 7th batting avg (2nd among major colleges), 4th on base percentage (2nd among major colleges), 2nd RBIs, 2nd slugging percentage, 1st total bases. Without a doubt, the best slugger in the league.

All Time Texas ranks - 2nd batting average, 1st slugging%, 1st on base%, 2nd in HRs (on pace for #1 with 30) , 9th RBIs (on pace for #3 with 89), 8th Total Bases (on pace for #1 with 202). If he continues at his current pace, you'd be hard pressed to name a Texas batter who had a better season at the plate (predicted finishes are assuming Texas goes 0-2 in Big 12 and regional, more games and more stats are more likely). 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

And there's still more pitches for him to destroy this season. So he's not done.

[BWilk55]

2-5 tonight with a bomb (#26), a double and 4 RBIs. 

He maintains his NCAA lead in HRs, slugging, total bases.  He is now first in batting average as well and 4th in OBP. Jumps back into 2nd in RBIs.

[BWilk55]

3-5 with HR #27, 3 RBIs on Thursday against Kansas. Almost certain to break the Texas HR record. Will he break Kris Bryants record of 31 HRs after the bats were regulated in 2011?

[BWilk55]

On 5/19/2022 at 10:57 PM, BWilk55 said:

3-5 with HR #27, 3 RBIs on Thursday against Kansas. Almost certain to break the Texas HR record. Will he break Kris Bryants record of 31 HRs after the bats were regulated in 2011?

Didn't take long to tie Kyle Russel with his 28th dinger tonight. 

[HornSports Staff]

 

[BWilk55]

 

[BWilk55]

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

 

[BWilk55]

https://www.usabaseball.com/golden-spikes-award/nominees/2022

Go Vote for Ivan. You can vote 25 times a day, very quick to do so. Fan vote counts for 5% of the total.

He is definitely the better candidate over the other position player, Kevin Parada. Parada would have been the top power hitter most years but is behind Ivan in all major categories (HR, RBIs, slugging percentage) and he is not near the top of OBP or Bavg leader like Ivan. Not a major defensive catcher either with only 12 caught stealing out of 41.

The pitcher who is a finalist is probably the top pitcher across the board but does rank at the top of any major category. He has less wins the Pete Hansen and a higher ERA than Lucas Gordon for example. He does lead the nation in strike outs.

[Baron]

59 minutes ago, BWilk55 said:

https://www.usabaseball.com/golden-spikes-award/nominees/2022

Go Vote for Ivan. You can vote 25 times a day, very quick to do so. Fan vote counts for 5% of the total.

He is definitely the better candidate over the other position player, Kevin Parada. Parada would have been the top power hitter most years but is behind Ivan in all major categories (HR, RBIs, slugging percentage) and he is not near the top of OBP or Bavg leader like Ivan. Not a major defensive catcher either with only 12 caught stealing out of 41.

The pitcher who is a finalist is probably the top pitcher across the board but does rank at the top of any major category. He has less wins the Pete Hansen and a higher ERA than Lucas Gordon for example. He does lead the nation in strike outs.

Done. 25 votes for the Hispanic Titanic!

[Big Daddy Cane]

18 hours ago, BWilk55 said:

https://www.usabaseball.com/golden-spikes-award/nominees/2022

Go Vote for Ivan. You can vote 25 times a day, very quick to do so. Fan vote counts for 5% of the total.

He is definitely the better candidate over the other position player, Kevin Parada. Parada would have been the top power hitter most years but is behind Ivan in all major categories (HR, RBIs, slugging percentage) and he is not near the top of OBP or Bavg leader like Ivan. Not a major defensive catcher either with only 12 caught stealing out of 41.

The pitcher who is a finalist is probably the top pitcher across the board but does rank at the top of any major category. He has less wins the Pete Hansen and a higher ERA than Lucas Gordon for example. He does lead the nation in strike outs.

That was easy.. literally took 15 seconds to vote 25 times.

[Bear19]

Done

[BWilk55]

No fan voting for this one but the other Heisman for baseball.

[BWilk55]

So, where would people rank Ivan Melendez among the all time greats? He'd be only the 4th player to win the Dick Howser Trophy and 1st to win the golden spikes.

He only played for 2 seasons at Texas so I think that limits things but I think this is the best offensive season by a Texas Longhorn. 

[Wayne]

2 hours ago, BWilk55 said:

So, where would people rank Ivan Melendez among the all time greats? He'd be only the 4th player to win the Dick Howser Trophy and 1st to win the golden spikes.

He only played for 2 seasons at Texas so I think that limits things but I think this is the best offensive season by a Texas Longhorn. 

It is the best offensive season by a Longhorn. He just set the NCAA record for home runs in the BBCOR era which started in 2022. Kris Bryant held it until now. 

[BWilk55]

Looks like they do a player and pitcher of the year. Hjerpe from Oregon state won Pitcher of the year

[BWilk55]

No doubt about this one, he was clearly the best slugger this year

[Oldmanastro]

https://247sports.com/college/texas/Article/Ivan-Melendez-Dick-Howser-Trophy-2022-College-World-Series-Texas-Longhorns-baseball-188876090/

Dick Howser winner!

[BWilk55]

8 minutes ago, Oldmanastro said:

https://247sports.com/college/texas/Article/Ivan-Melendez-Dick-Howser-Trophy-2022-College-World-Series-Texas-Longhorns-baseball-188876090/

Dick Howser winner!

 

[BWilk55]

This may go down as the best single season by a Texas ball player of all time. I haven't been on this earth as long as some of yall, any prior seasons that can match this one?