Southern New Hampshire University

Mendez was a three-year member of the baseball program from 2011-13. In 39 appearances, including 32 starts, he went 17-8 with two saves and a 2.01 ERA, striking out 248 and walking just 56, while giving up 191 hits over 241-and-two-thirds innings. As a junior, Mendez went 9-3 with a 1.67 ERA and a 133-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He graduated ranking second in program history in wins, ERA and strikeouts, as well as third in innings pitched, and was drafted 491^st overall in the 16^th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics.

Mendez earned a handful of honors as a junior in 2013, including ABCA All-America Third Team, NCBWA All-America Honorable Mention, ABCA East All-Region First Team, NCBWA East All-Region First Team, Daktronics East All-Region First Team and Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team. He also claimed NE10 All-Conference Third Team and ABCA/Rawlings East Region Gold Glove Second Team accolades as a sophomore in 2012, as well as an NE10 All-Rookie Team nod as a freshman (2011).

The Penmen earned back-to-back NCAA Championship berths in 2012 and 2013, advancing to the program's first College World Series in 2012.