Carlos Alberto Méndez Castillo (born June 18, 1974) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball first baseman and coach. He appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2003 season and has held coaching positions in the Atlanta Braves organization and with the New York Yankees’ Single‑A affiliate.
Early life and playing career
Méndez was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He bats and throws right‑handed. After signing as an international free agent, he progressed through the minor‑league systems of the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, and other organizations. He made his MLB debut on May 22, 2003, with the Orioles and played his final major‑league game on September 28, 2003. In 26 MLB games, Méndez recorded a .222 batting average, five runs batted in, and three doubles.
Following his brief major‑league tenure, Méndez continued to play in the minors. Notably, he spent the 2007 season with the Richmond Braves of the International League, appearing in 82 games. His professional playing career also included stints with teams such as the Gulf Coast Royals, Leones del Caracas (Venezuelan Winter League), and various Triple‑A clubs.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Méndez transitioned to coaching. He joined the Atlanta Braves organization, serving as an assistant hitting coach in 2025. In November 2024, the Braves announced his hiring for that role. Subsequently, in 2026, Méndez was named the catching coach for the Tampa Tarpons, the Single‑A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
Personal life
Méndez is married to Cortney, and the couple has two children, Carlos Jr. and Tatiana. He resides in Wilmington, Delaware.
References
- MLB.com player profile: Carlos Méndez.
- Baseball‑Reference.com: Carlos Méndez statistics and minor‑league history.
- "Braves Hire Hugh Quattlebaum, Carlos Méndez As Assistant Hitting Coaches," MLB Trade Rumors, November 22 2024.
This article summarizes information available from publicly verifiable baseball reference sources as of the latest revision of the cited Wikipedia entry.