Carlos Mendoza Wife
Meet Carlos Mendoza Wife Francis Mendoza! Venezuelan Coach Carlos Mendoza is the manager of the New York Mets. He previously coached the New York Yankees from 2018 to 2023, the same team he played for as a utility infielder.
Francis Mendoza
Behind a great man is a great woman, and Carlos Mendoza’s Francis Mendoza is no exception. Once a successful dentist, Francis gave up her career so he could pursue his career as an MLB coach.
“I remember having this conversation with you. [I asked], ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ You gave up your career as a dentist,” Carlos said to Francis at the press conference. “… You said, ‘I’m ready to do this with you’, and here we are, Francis. I love you so much and I can’t wait for this next new chapter in our lives.”
Carlos and Francis Mendoza crossed paths in the early 2000s while Francis was in her third year of dental school. At that time, Carlos was already pursuing a career in professional baseball. Francis’ mother cautioned her about the challenges of being with someone in Carlos’ line of work, suggesting that she might have to sacrifice her dental ambitions.
Reflecting on their relationship, Francis shared with MLB.com, “I was in love and didn’t think much about it at the time.” Carlos expressed a desire to marry, but Francis felt a strong obligation to complete her education, especially since her father had invested significantly in her schooling. She told Carlos, “I want to finish my education first; we can marry after I graduate.”
After Francis graduated, they had to delay their wedding due to the tragic news of her father’s brain tumor, which ultimately led to his passing. The couple finally tied the knot in 2009.
By 2011, Francis had established her own dental practice in Venezuela and was expecting their first child, Adrian. However, Carlos was called to Spring Training as a coach and later became the manager of the Gulf Coast League Yankees. Wanting to be by Carlos’s side for the birth of their child, Francis closed her clinic and informed her patients that she would be back in six months.
Upon arriving in Florida, Francis was struck by Mark Newman’s honesty regarding their situation. He informed Carlos that obtaining work visas would be complicated due to their new American baby. The Yankees were prepared to help them secure green cards, but with the stipulation that they could not leave the U.S. for a year. This led Francis to contemplate their family’s future and ultimately decide that staying in the U.S. would provide better opportunities for their children.
Francis explained, “I knew my kids would have a better future here than in Venezuela,” prompting her to abandon her dental career there.
The regulations for practicing dentistry in the U.S. differ significantly from those in Venezuela. Francis noted that as a foreign dentist, she would need to pass several exams and attend three additional years of dental school to qualify as a general dentist in America.
By 2017, with their second son Andres born and Carlos traveling frequently for baseball, Francis still harbored aspirations of returning to dentistry. However, she took a job as a dental assistant in Florida instead, where her prior experience was acknowledged but not adequately compensated.
In the following year, Carlos secured his first major league position with the Yankees as an infield and quality control coach. At this point, Francis realized she needed to focus on their children since Carlos would be away often for work.
Now that Carlos is managing the Mets, Francis felt deeply moved by his emotional tribute to her during his introductory press conference. She stated, “To reach this level, you need a strong support system at home,” emphasizing their partnership. Reflecting on her sacrifices, she expressed no regrets about her choices: “I’m so happy for him and our family; it has all been worth it.”
Photo Credit: Facebook/New York Mets.
Carlos Mendoza Biography
Carlos Mendoza (b. November 27, 1979) was born and raised in Venezuela, where he also completed his college education. He began his professional baseball career as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants and later played in the New York Yankees organization as a utility infielder. Over 13 seasons, Mendoza competed in Minor League Baseball.
Coaching Career
Mendoza joined the Staten Island Yankees coaching staff in 2009, progressing to the Charleston RiverDogs in 2010. He took on managerial duties for the Gulf Coast League Yankees during the 2011 season and returned to manage the RiverDogs before the 2012 season. Afterward, he became a roving defensive instructor within the Yankees’ system.
Following the 2017 season, Mendoza was elevated to the Yankees’ major league coaching staff as an infield coach. On November 11, 2019, he was appointed bench coach of the Yankees, succeeding Josh Bard.
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Mendoza’s first ejection as a major league coach occurred on June 6, 2021, when he was mistakenly thrown out by umpire Bill Miller during a game, despite not having argued. This incident came after another Yankees coach had already been ejected earlier in the game.
Managerial Career
On November 13, 2023, Mendoza was named manager of the New York Mets, signing a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year. His first ejection as a manager happened on July 12, 2024, during a game against the Colorado Rockies after he contested a strike call.
By September 30, 2024, Mendoza led the Mets to clinch a playoff spot, marking him as the first rookie manager in franchise history to achieve this feat in his inaugural season.
