1. Overview
Joey Meneses Ramírez (born May 6, 1992) is a Mexican professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who currently plays in the New York Mets organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2022 with the Washington Nationals, following a significant career in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and a stint in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Orix Buffaloes. Meneses is recognized for his powerful hitting and has also prominently represented the Mexican national team in various international tournaments, including the World Baseball Classic and the Olympic Games. His career is marked by a notable rise to the major leagues after many years in the minor league systems, coupled with a brief period of controversy during his time in Japan.
2. Early Life
Joey Meneses Ramírez was born on May 6, 1992. Details regarding his childhood, family background, or the specific early experiences that led to his interest in baseball are not publicly available in the provided sources.
3. Professional Career
Joey Meneses's professional baseball journey began in 2011, progressing through various minor league systems before reaching the major leagues in 2022. His career has seen him play for multiple organizations in the United States, a season in Japan, and consistently participate in the Mexican Winter League.
3.1. Minor League Baseball
Meneses began his professional career within the Atlanta Braves organization, playing for several of their farm teams from 2011 through 2017. During this period, he first reached the Double-A level in 2016 with the Mississippi Braves. In 2017, also with Mississippi, he posted a .292 batting average with 9 home runs and 45 RBIs across 108 games. His performance earned him recognition as a mid-season Southern League all-star that year. He was also named an MILB.com Organization All-Star in both 2014 and 2017. After the 2017 season, Meneses became a free agent.
On February 1, 2018, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Meneses to a minor league contract. He spent the entire 2018 season with their Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. This proved to be a standout year for Meneses, as he won the International League MVP award, recording a .311 batting average, 23 home runs, and 82 RBIs in 130 games. Despite this success, he was released by the Phillies on October 29, 2018.
Following his release by the Phillies, Meneses signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox on January 23, 2020. The 2020 minor league season was canceled, but the Red Sox re-signed him to another minor league deal in early November. For the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Portland Sea Dogs of Double-A Northeast and was later promoted to the Worcester Red Sox of Triple-A East in early August. After the 2021 season, on November 7, he elected free agency.
Throughout his minor league career and during the off-seasons, Meneses consistently played for Tomateros de Culiacán of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP) after the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons.
3.2. Nippon Professional Baseball
On October 29, 2018, immediately after his release from the Phillies, Meneses signed a one-year contract with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The contract was estimated to be worth 100.00 M JPY, which was approximately equivalent to 950.00 K USD at the time. He made his NPB debut on March 29, 2019. However, his tenure in Japan was cut short when, on June 27, 2019, Meneses was suspended for 12 months after testing positive for the banned substance hydroxystanozolol. On the same day as his suspension, he became a free agent, effectively ending his time with the Orix Buffaloes.
3.3. Major League Baseball
3.3.1. Washington Nationals
On January 13, 2022, Meneses signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He was called up to the major leagues on August 2, 2022, following the Nationals' trade of Juan Soto and Josh Bell. Meneses made his MLB debut against the New York Mets. In that game, he hit a home run off of Yoan López in the seventh inning, marking his first major league hit.
After going hitless in his next game, Meneses embarked on an impressive 11-game hitting streak. He continued to perform well throughout August, achieving a slash line of .354/.385/.626 and hitting seven home runs in his first 25 MLB games. On September 1, Meneses hit a walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics, securing the Nationals' first walk-off victory of the year. Later, on September 16, with the Nationals trailing the Miami Marlins 4-0, Meneses hit an inside-the-park home run and subsequently scored the winning run in a 5-4 victory for Washington.
Meneses concluded his 2022 season with a .324 batting average, a .367 on-base percentage, a .563 slugging percentage, 13 home runs, and 34 RBIs. His strong rookie performance earned him a spot on the MLB Pipeline All-Rookie Team.
In July 2024, after experiencing struggles, the Nationals optioned Meneses to Triple-A. In 76 games for Washington that season, he had a slash line of .231/.291/.302 with 3 home runs and 42 RBIs. On November 4, Meneses was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. However, he rejected this assignment and elected to become a free agent.
3.3.2. New York Mets
On November 21, 2024, Joey Meneses signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. His anticipated role with the team was not specified in the provided information.
4. International Career
Joey Meneses has been a consistent member of the Mexico national baseball team in various international baseball competitions, demonstrating his commitment and skill on the global stage.
4.1. Caribbean Series
Meneses has represented Mexico in the Caribbean Series on multiple occasions. He participated in the tournaments in 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. His contributions to the Mexican national team in these tournaments have been a regular feature of his international career.
4.2. World Baseball Classic and Olympics
In February 2019, Meneses was selected to the Mexico national baseball team for exhibition games against Japan. He also represented Mexico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were contested in 2021 in Tokyo.
In 2023, Meneses played for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. A notable highlight of his performance in this tournament was hitting two home runs in a single game against the United States during the pool play round, significantly contributing to Mexico's efforts in the competition.
5. Awards and Honors
Joey Meneses has received several individual accolades throughout his professional baseball career:
- MILB.com Organization All-Star (2014, 2017)
- Mid-season Southern League All-Star (2017)
- International League MVP (2018)
- MLB Pipeline All-Rookie Team (2022)
6. Personal Life
Joey Meneses is engaged to Mitzy Guzman. The couple has one son, named Joseph. Outside of his baseball career, Meneses has openly expressed his admiration for Goku, a character from the Japanese media franchise Dragon Ball. He has cited his interest in Goku as one of the reasons he was drawn to playing for a Japanese team.
7. Assessment and Controversies
Joey Meneses's career trajectory is notable for his late blooming into Major League Baseball after many years in the minor league system, highlighting his perseverance. However, his time in Japan was marked by a significant controversy.
7.1. Doping Controversy
During his tenure with the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Joey Meneses was involved in a doping controversy. On June 27, 2019, he tested positive for hydroxystanozolol, a banned substance. As a result of this anti-doping regulation violation, Meneses was suspended for 12 months. This incident led to his immediate free agency from the Orix Buffaloes on the same day, ending his contract in Japan.
8. Legacy
Joey Meneses's career offers a compelling narrative of perseverance and determination within the sport of baseball. His journey to the major leagues at the age of 30, after more than a decade in the minor league system, stands as a testament to his enduring commitment and skill. His impactful debut with the Washington Nationals, marked by key hitting performances, showcased his ability to perform at the highest level. Within the context of Mexican baseball, Meneses is a significant figure, consistently representing his country in major international tournaments such as the Caribbean Series, the World Baseball Classic, and the Olympic Games. His contributions on the international stage further solidify his legacy as a prominent Mexican baseball player.