Carlos Mendoza

Carlos Mendoza is a Venezuelan professional baseball manager known for his extensive experience in Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball. Mendoza began his career as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants and later played in the New York Yankees organization as a utility infielder, spending 13 seasons in Minor League Baseball. He transitioned into coaching by joining the Yankees as a farm system coach, managing in the minors and in Venezuelan Winter Ball before advancing to the Yankees' major league staff.

Following his promotion to the Yankees' major league coaching staff as an infield coach, Mendoza was later named bench coach, working under manager Aaron Boone and coaching players such as Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Mendoza became a candidate for multiple MLB managerial positions and was named the 25th manager in New York Mets history.

In his first season as Mets manager, Mendoza guided the team to a significant turnaround after a challenging start. The Mets posted a 67-40 record over the remainder of the season, excelled in one-run games, and recorded 41 comeback wins. The team clinched a playoff spot, making Mendoza the first manager in Mets history to reach the postseason in his debut season. The Mets advanced to the National League Championship Series, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mendoza was named a finalist for National League Manager of the Year for his work with the Mets. His communication skills and approach to analytics and in-game strategy were noted throughout the industry. Mendoza completed his tenure with the Mets with a 206-199 record over two and a half seasons, and his .509 career winning percentage ranks among the highest in franchise history.