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Cristian José Mena (born December 21, 2002) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career

Chicago White Sox

Mena signed with the Chicago White Sox as an international free agent on July 2, 2019. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He made his professional debut in 2021 with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League White Sox, logging a 7.82 ERA with 62 strikeouts over 13 games (12 starts).

Mena began the 2022 campaign with the Single–A Kannapolis Intimidators before later being promoted to the High–A Winston-Salem Dash and Double–A Birmingham Barons. In 24 starts split between the three affiliates, he accumulated a 2–6 record and 3.80 ERA with 126 strikeouts across 104+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Mena split the 2023 season between Birmingham and the Triple–A Charlotte Knights. In 27 total starts, he compiled a cumulative 8–7 record and 4.85 ERA with 156 strikeouts across 133+2⁄3 innings of work. On November 14, 2023, the White Sox added Mena to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The White Sox traded Mena to the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 3, 2024, in exchange for Dominic Fletcher. He was optioned to the Triple–A Reno Aces to begin the 2024 season. On July 3, Mena was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut the same day against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing four runs on four hits with two strikeouts over three innings. On August 2, it was announced that Mena would likely miss the remainder of the season after suffering a right forearm strain.

References

1. "White Sox sign five international free agents". MLB.com.
2. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
3. "Cristian Mena Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
4. "White Sox prospect Cristian Mena 'never afraid' as he emerges sooner than expected". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
5. Gregor, Scot (October 7, 2022). "Cristian Mena Authors Surprising Breakout For White Sox". www.baseballamerica.com.
6. "Cristian Mena - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
7. "White Sox select contracts of Jake Eder and Cristian Mena". mlb.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
8. Passan, Jeff (February 3, 2024). "Chicago White Sox deal away Gregory Santos, Cristian Mena". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
9. "Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Sent to minor-league camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
10. "D-Backs Recall Cristian Mena For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
11. "Diamondbacks recall Cristian Mena for MLB debut vs. Dodgers". espn.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
12. "Diamondbacks Remove Paul Sewald From Closer Role". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 4, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

• 2002 births
• Living people
• People from San Francisco de Macorís
• Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
• 21st-century Dominican Republic sportsmen
• Major League Baseball pitchers
• Arizona Diamondbacks players
• Arizona League White Sox players
• Kannapolis Cannon Ballers players
• Winston-Salem Dash players
• Birmingham Barons players
• Charlotte Knights players
• Reno Aces players