Carlos Mendoza: 3 things to know about NY Mets manager candidate after interview
The Mets have added a resident New Yorker to their growing list of managerial candidates.
According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, the Mets have interviewed Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza for the team's manager opening.
The 43-year-old Mendoza has coached in the Yankees organization since 2009. Here is what to know about Mendoza as his name has been added to the list of Mets manager candidates.
Yankee ties
Mendoza broke into the minor leagues in the Giants system as a 17-year-old infielder out of Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He reached as high as Class AAA Fresno in 2003.
After two seasons in independent baseball, Mendoza latched on with Class A+ Tampa in 2006. He spent four years in the Yankees' minor league system, rising as high as Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009.
Once his playing career ended, Mendoza has coached in the Yankees organization since 2009, spending the last four seasons as the team's bench coach under Aaron Boone. He managed the Gulf Coast Yankees in 2011 and the Class A Charleston River Dogs in 2012.
He is a strong defensive presence, becoming the Yankees' infield coach in 2017.
International ties
Before the 2023 season began, Mendoza pent early March as the bench coach under Omar Lopez for Venezuela at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Venezuela was undefeated in WBC pool play, finishing first in Pool D at the WBC before falling to the United States in the quarterfinals. The Venezuela roster included Omar Narvaez, Eduardo Escobar and Elieser Hernandez, who all entered 2022 as members of the Mets.
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Not his first interview
Over the last three seasons, Mendoza has interviewed for four separate manager openings.
Once the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign concluded, Mendoza interviewed with the Tigers and Red Sox. Then after 2022 wrapped up, Mendoza was a contender for the White Sox job.
The veteran coach has also interviewed for the Guardians opening.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Carlos Mendoza: NY Mets interview manager candidate
