Melo ('07) Joins Whitewings

United League (independent baseball) Baseball’s Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings announced today that they have signed former San Francisco Giants second baseman Juan Melo.

The 32-year old native of Bani, Dominican Republic, played in 11 games for the Giants in 2000, going 1-for-13 (.077) with one RBI. He received the call-up after hitting .295 with 26 doubles, six triples, 12 home runs , 50 RBI and 58 runs scored in 123 games as a shortstop and second baseman for AAA Fresno (Pacific League).

Melo was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Padres in 1993. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1999 for Isabel Giron, who pitched in three games for the WhiteWings in 2007.

He reached AAA for the first time in 1997 and stayed there until getting his call-up the Majors. Melo returned to AAA Fresno in 2001 and 2002 before going to the Mexican and Northern leagues in 2003. He also played in the Northeast League and Atlantic league before returning to the Pacific Coast League in 2005. He spent 2007 with AA Harrisburg (Eastern League), Fargo-Moorhead (Northern League) and St. George (Golden League). He played for St. George last year, going 18-for 63 (.286) in 15 games with one home run and 11 RBI.

Melo is a career .285 hitter in 1,570 minor league games with 132 home runs and 773 RBI. He has experience at all four infield positions.