TL;DR
- Joey Meneses debuted with the Washington Nationals in 2022, excelling with a .324 average and 13 home runs.
- His performance declined in 2023-24, leading to his release by the Nationals before 2025.
- Meneses played for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets in 2025, batting .265 with 11 home runs.
- The Athletics signed Meneses to a minor league contract, but opportunities may be limited.
Once upon a time, Joey Meneses was a breakout star.
In 2022, the slugging first baseman debuted in the major leagues at age 30 with the Washington Nationals, and during his initial 56 MLB contests, Meneses posted a.324 batting average and 13 home runs.
He didn't maintain that success with the Nats, though. Across 2023-24, he had a mediocre slugging percentage of just.370.
Meneses was let go by the Nats before 2025. The New York Mets signed him.
He spent the entire 2025 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. He batted.265 with 11 home runs.
In his Triple-A career, Meneses rakes to the tune of a.282 average and.480 slugging.
That was enough to earn him another look this offseason as a free agent.
MORE: Shohei Ohtani joins Barry Bonds in MVP history
The Athletics have signed Meneses to a minor league contract, according to insider Francys Romero.
Meneses might not necessarily have a greater opportunity to break through in that spot. The team already has Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker covering first base and designated hitter.
The A's are in a rebuilding phase more so than the Mets, and it's possible Meneses could be called up at some point this year simply because he's part of a less talented organization.
It's unlikely Meneses ever returns to the level he showed in that first big league stint.
More MLB news:
- Why Aaron Judge won AL MVP over Cal Raleigh
- Cal Raleigh didn't get a Joe DiMaggio benefit of the doubt in MVP vote
- Red Sox have one major need
- A good sign for the Mariners bringing back Josh Naylor