The World Baseball Classic offers a stage for the game’s biggest and brightest stars. It also allows unheralded players to make a name for themselves. Those like Joey Meneses, a 30-year-old minor league journeyman, who had never played a game at the major league level until last season.
And yet, Meneses hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lead his native Mexico to an 11-5 upset over a star-studded United States team in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic. Meneses’ home runs came off the bat with an exit velocity of 109.1 and 102.9 mph, respectively, according to Jesse Borek of MLB.com.
The Washington Nationals farmhand put the game out of reach with a three-run home run in the fourth inning. In front of a largely pro-Mexico crowd, he emphatically flipped his bat to the sound of “MVP” chants.
Joey Meneses is 3-for-3 with 2 homers and 5 runs batted in… it’s 7-1 Mexico over the USA in the 4th inning. ⚾️💣💣#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/PwlTHoY6sP
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 13, 2023
While he’s not a household name amongst MLB fans just yet, the 30-year-old Meneses did an admirable job in taking advantage of his first big league opportunity last season. Called up after the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres, Meneses hit .324/.367/.563 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs in 240 plate appearances for Washington.
Team USA is the reigning WBC champions from their 2017 win. But Meneses single-handedly prevented the Americans from waltzing through pool play. And while he’ll have the opportunity to make a name for himself with the Nationals in 2023, he’s already done so did so on a global stage with his play in his first-ever WBC thus far.
The baseball world reacted to Meneses’ unlikely performance, as he became a Mexican cult hero overnight.
Joey Meneses wastes no time getting the scoring started. 💥#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/hudpm1v8v4
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
JOEY MENESES WILL NOT BE STOPPED. #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/MZIu4jqMwb
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
Joey Meneses spent 12 years in the minor leagues, hoping for an @MLB opportunity — and a night like the one he had Sunday in @MexicoBeis’s emphatic win. Thanks to Joey for his time in this interview. @LasMayores @Nationals @clubtomateros @Liga_Arco pic.twitter.com/mezsQQwzw4
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 13, 2023
Joey Meneses is a bad man. Mexico rinsed Team USA last night. pic.twitter.com/ox28fvPjqi
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) March 13, 2023
It’s like we’ve all been saying for years: Imagine what it would be like to see Mike Tro… I mean, Joey Meneses… in October.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 13, 2023
Joey Meneses’s wild, magical ride continues. Middle of last summer he had played close to a decade in the minors without a major league appearance. And he just now homered in the first inning to give his country an early lead against Team USA.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) March 13, 2023
Been a while since Nats fans had something fun to celebrate. How about Joey Meneses hitting two bombs in the WBC for Mexico tonight?
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) March 13, 2023
Joey Meneses had one of the cooler stories of the last MLB season. He signed as a free agent out of Mexico in 2011 and didn't make his MLB debut until last season, at age 30. That home run was 109 mph off the bat.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) March 13, 2023
[MLB.com]
