St. Paul – The St. Paul Saints’ hottest hitter wasn’t even in the Minnesota Twins organization this time a year ago. But the way Hendry Mendez has been hitting since he was called up to Triple-A on May 5 has made him one of the best returns the Twins got from the 2025 trade deadline firesale.
The Twins received Hendry Mendez in the Harrison Bader trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, and he finished the 2025 season in Double-A Wichita. There, he had an incredible .324/.461/.450 slash line, three home runs, 16 RBI, 19% walk rate, and 14.8% walk rate over 33 games with the Wind Surge.
It’s not always easy to perform well after being traded in the minors. However, the Milwaukee Brewers had previously traded Mendez for infielder Oliver Dunn in November 2023. He had excelled at it before, so a second trade didn’t bother him, especially with how the Twins organization welcomed him.
“It felt really good,” Mendez said through Saints pitching coach Carlos Hernandez, who translated on his behalf. “Like at the beginning, it was different, of course, but at the same time I felt welcome because getting traded, this is the second time it’s happened, it’s not always easy. I got to a team where I felt welcomed, and I like it over here.”
Mendez has continued to flourish during his short tenure with the Twins. In just 15 games with the Saints, Mendez has put up a .382/.485/.564 slash line with three home runs, 15 RBI, three stolen bases, a 16.7% walk rate, and 15.2% strikeout rate over 70 plate appearances.
While there weren’t any players in Double-A he had previously known, Mendez had been super close with them before being traded to the Twins. However, that hasn’t been the case in St. Paul. He’s known Emmanuel Rodriguez for years. They grew up in the Dominican Republic and bonded in the lower levels of the minors.
“We played against each other at the lower levels, and we know each other from home, too,” Mendez said. “So Emma has been that guy.”
“I feel really happy seeing him come up here and have some success,” Rodriguez said through teammate Marco Raya. “We talk a lot. I don’t just see him as a teammate, I see him as a brother as well. Just seeing him get to the Twins last year and perform well, and get up here and have some success makes me really happy to see that.”
Mendez’s performance in 2026 highlights why the Twins added him to the 40-man roster this past November – to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Saints manager Brian Dinkelman has seen Mendez’s consistent work ethic more than any other coach since they acquired him.
“He always has good at-bats, plays corner outfield, gives us good ABs, gets on base, and hits the ball hard,” Dinkleman said. “To be at such a young age at the Triple-A level and have good at-bats consistently is, that’s something really special. Hopefully, we can continue that for a while there and get him his chance in the big leagues sometime soon.”
Hendry Mendez comes to the ballpark every day with a fierce work ethic, which has continuously paid off since the Phillies traded him. Mendez entered this season intending to make the majors. He’s already made it up to Triple-A just over a month into the minor league season. With how he’s been swinging the bat at the next level, a major-league promotion isn’t out of the question.
Mendez owns a collective .319/.411/.521 slash line with seven home runs, 36 RBI, 11.9% walk rate, and 17.9% strikeout rate in 39 games. He’s raved as one of the best all-around hitters in the organization. Still, he’s only 22, and the Twins want to take their time developing him, even with his spot on the 40-man roster already secured.
“I’ve been working on defense for sure,” he said. “That has been my priority. Then the most important one is just to hit the ball. Hitting the ball at a really good angle and getting good line drives, ground balls, and all that because that’s been my thing.”
However, if Hendry Mendez keeps swinging the hot bat he’s carried with him into Triple-A, he may be able to force the issue to join Minnesota’s active roster if the opportunity presents itself. And if another Twins prospect can make their MLB debut within a year of the 2025 firesale, where they traded 11 players, then the return will look plenty better than it did in the moment for many Twins fans.
“The goal for me was just to get to Triple-A for sure, but the main goal is just to get to the big leagues; that’s something I’m looking for,” he said. “This past off-season, that was something I actually worked hard for, just the ultimate goal, to become a big leaguer.”
