South Side Hit Pen Top Prospect No. 91: Cristian Mena
Fortunate sign: Mena hasn't pitched a pro inning, but his future seems as promising as any. (@BenBadler)
Cristian Mena
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
6´3´´
180 pounds
Age: 17
SSHP rank among all right-handed starting pitchers in the system: 13
Mena, who didn't even turn 17 until December, could be next year’s right-handed version of Ronaldo Guzman for the DSL White Sox. Mena didn’t pitch for the DSL Sox this year, but should join the rotation in 2020. He struck out six of the 11 batters he faced at the Mejia Top 10 Showcase in Las Vegas, and threw 86-88 mph at the event with a devastating curveball, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
I'm the writer formerly known as WSM20051917. Despite my entire family being Cub fans, I grew up listening to Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall on the radio as I listened to the entire season of the South Side Hit Men of '77. While it's true I have a myriad of other interests (American history, classic literature, classic rock, classic country, blues, jazz, gardening, family, etc.—not all in that order), few things aside from family surpass my interest in all things baseball — especially the White Sox.