Cristian Mendoza
From BR Bullpen
Cristian Enrique Mendoza
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 160 lb.
Cristian Mendoza has spent over a decade as a minor league pitcher.
Mendoza debuted in 1999 with the DSL Yankees, going 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA. He fell to 3-4, 6.90 for the same club in 2000. In 2001, he pitched for the DSL Yankees (3-0, 0.00) and GCL Yankees (3 R, 8 K in 5 2/3 IP). The next season, the 20-year-old was 1-0 with four saves and a 2.29 ERA for the GCL Yankees (10 H in 19 2/3 IP) and gave up two runs in 2 2/3 IP for the Tampa Yankees.
Mendoza split 2003 between the Battle Creek Yankees (4-0, 2 Sv, 3.80, .200 opponent average, 28 BB in 47 1/3 IP) and Tampa (0-1, 2.82, .200 opponent average, 18 BB in 22 1/3 IP).
Let go by the Yanks, Cristian went to the independent leagues. In 2005, he was 1-1 with 21 saves and a 2.98 ERA for Les Capitales de Québec. He led the Canadian-American Association in saves and was named the circuit's All-Star relief pitcher. With the 2006 Capitales, he went 3-1 with 16 saves and a 2.12 ERA. He walked only 7 in 34 innings while fanning 40. He was third in the league in saves.
In 2007, Mendoza had a 1-3, 1.55 record with 7 saves for Québec. Moving to the Winnipeg Goldeyes in '08, he was 2-4 with 11 saves and a 3.80 ERA. The next year, he went 3-4 with a save and a 5.45 ERA for the Yuma Scorpions. Cristian helped the Colombian national team win the Silver Medal at the 2010 South American Games. He remained with the squad for the 2010 Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament.
