By PAUL GOTHAM
That didn’t take long.
Tuesday Danny Mendick loaded up his Jeep Grand Cherokee and travelled from Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Birmingham, Alabama. Wednesday night the former Pittsford-Mendon and Monroe Community College star sent a fifth-inning pitch packing.
Mendick made his Double-A debut in style with a two-out, two-run home run to pace the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox) to a 3-0 victory over the Jackson Generals in Southern League action at Regions Field.
“When I pulled up to Regions Field, I came up to right field and the first thought I had was this field was gorgeous,” Mendick told Birmingham Baron media relations. “The second thought I had was I didn’t think I was going to be able to put one out of here, it’s huge.”
MUST SEE: @dmendick01 connects for his first career Double-A hit, a home run to left in the Barons 3-0 win over the Jackson Generals. pic.twitter.com/pLh2shYI1K
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) July 20, 2017
The 5-foot-10 middle infielder finished 1-for-4 on the night.
“In my book I went 4-for-4,” Mendick noted. “The last at-bat the kid through a changeup away and I stayed through it, so that’s what you want to do. You have guys playing defense and they’re out there for that purpose and I just hit to the wrong area three times.”
Danny Mendick blasts Birmingham to a 3-0 victory in his Double-A debut!
FULL STORY: https://t.co/7m6xp9j10J pic.twitter.com/jrBKChpf9d
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) July 20, 2017
The round-tripper was his eighth this season as Mendick hit .289 with seven home runs and 30 RBI to earn Carolina League (A-Advanced) All Star honors with the Winston-Salem Dash. Mendick was named to the Class A South Atlantic League All-Star game in 2016.
MENDICK GETS PROMOTION TO DOUBLE-A
After starring at Pittsford-Mendon, Mendick hit .364 and scored 42 runs for Monroe during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He finished with a fielding percentage of .981. He went on to play two years UMass-Lowell. During his senior season, Mendick led the River Hawks in RBI (30), doubles (16), total bases (71) and slugging percentage (.455). He tied for the team lead with 50 hits, was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award and was named first team All-America East.
The White Sox chose Mendick in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB Draft.
Mendick is one of two MCC Tribunes in minor league baseball. Matt Brooks plays with Miami Marlins affiliate the Batavia Muckdogs in the Class A (short) New York-Penn League.
DANNY MENDICK: HAVE GLOVE; WILL TRAVEL
Mendick is one of eight former Section V athletes currently playing professional baseball at the minor league level including Chris Bostick (Aquinas), Ernie Clement (Brighton), Cito Culver (Irondequoit), Logan Harasta (Webster Thomas), Grant Heyman (Pittsford Sutherland), Steven Klimek and Jonathan Schwind.
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