Jessica Mendoza is making some significant changes in her professional career.
The New York Mets announced on Friday that they are parting ways with Mendoza, who previously worked for the team as a special advisor. Mendoza resigned from that position and signed a contract extension with ESPN, though she will no longer be part of the network’s “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast. ESPN says Mendoza will still be heavily involved with its MLB coverage, however, including becoming the first woman to serve as a solo analyst for an MLB game and the first woman to serve as a World Series game analyst on national radio.
“I’ve always prioritized my growth and these new opportunities will allow me to expand my broadcasting career while challenging me at the same time,” Mendoza said in a statement. “From calling MLB games on television and radio, to extensive studio work and features, I’m excited about everything that lies ahead. Some of the best memories of my career have been with Sunday Night Baseball and I will miss my time with our amazing crew, who have been like family. I’m grateful to ESPN for continuing to commit to me and I can’t wait for the season to get started.”
Mendoza’s decision to resign from her job with the Mets came a day after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he is not thrilled with the idea of Mendoza and Pedro Martinez — who is a special assistant to the Boston Red Sox but also works for MLB Network — working for teams and major media networks.
Mendoza was heavily criticized for some of the comments she made about the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Carlos Beltran lost his job as Mets manager before actually managing a game due to his involvement in Houston’s scheme, and many felt Mendoza’s remarks were biased since she worked for the Mets. At the very least, she will no longer have to deal with the bad optics of working for a team while trying to provide fair and unbiased analysis.
