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The Texas Rangers have suspended Yohander Mendez for seeing an unauthorized medical care provider, general manager Jon Daniels announced today. There has been no additional information forthcoming about the situation, other than that he saw someone who wasn’t on the Rangers’ authorized list of medical practitioners.
This is just the latest bump in the road for the 25 year old lefthander who was a prize member of the Rangers’ heralded 2011 J-2 class. Mendez was called up to join the Rangers’ rotation in mid-2018, then sent all the way back down to high-A Down East after an altercation involving Mendez, several Rangers, and several Kansas City Royals players in a late night establishment in Kansas City. Mendez missed most of last season with an elbow issue, and has been slowed this spring due to shoulder inflammation.
Mendez reportedly has a fourth option, but the issues arising this spring could result in him losing his 40 man roster spot, should the Rangers decide they need to clear a spot to add someone.