From celebratory pool dip to the A's, Meneses' journey back to Majors a memorable one

WEST SACRAMENTO -- We’ve heard some pretty interesting stories about players learning they’ve been called up to the big leagues. In the case of Joey Meneses, his recent experience was pretty unique.

Fresh off clinching a spot in the Pacific Coast League playoffs with Triple-A Las Vegas following a 10-6 win over Round Rock on Saturday night, Meneses joined his teammates for a celebratory dip in the pool that sits just behind the wall in right-center at Las Vegas Ballpark when Aviators manager Fran Riordan gathered the team for a message.

It began with Riordan congratulating the club for a job well done. Shortly after, Riordan had something else to say.

“We were at the pool, and the manager got there and told me in front of everybody,” Meneses recalled. “‘Hey, Joey is going back to the big leagues!’ Everybody was happy for me.”

Meneses was called up by the Athletics, returning to the big leagues for the first time since 2024. It’s a promotion that was well deserved. The 34-year-old crushed PCL pitching, batting .348 with a .944 OPS, 11 home runs, 20 doubles and 76 RBIs in 69 games for Triple-A Las Vegas.

“When the season started, I was really bad,” Meneses said. “I don’t think I got a hit until my 20th plate appearance. It was interesting. I started working with our hitting coach [Brian McArn] and we started a routine that started giving me confidence. I felt really confident over the past month or so.”

A late-bloomer who did not debut in the Majors until age 30, Meneses has had a fair amount of success in the big leagues. He’s a career .274 hitter with 29 homers, 61 doubles and 165 RBIs in parts of three seasons with the Nationals from 2022-24.

After spending the entirety of the 2025 season in the Mets system at Triple-A Syracuse, Meneses became a free agent this winter and explored his options. Weighing Minor League offers from several clubs, his agent suggested a move to a team whose Triple-A affiliate is in the Pacific Coast League.

The A’s fit that bill and had heavy interest. Of course, there was a clear blockage at first base, Meneses’ natural position, with the presence of reigning American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz.

“We talked a little bit about the possibilities to be in the big leagues, but it was hard,” Meneses said. “My agent told me Kurtz was here, so I would probably start in Triple-A, but he wanted me to go to a different league. He wanted to see me in [the Pacific Coast League] to see if it would help me. That’s how we got to the A’s.”

Meneses rolled the dice and signed a Minor League deal with the A’s this offseason that included an invite to Spring Training, though he spent a good portion of his spring playing for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. That decision has now paid off. He joined the A’s for Sunday’s series finale against the Angels and immediately contributed with an RBI single in his first at-bat.

Going forward, Meneses is expected to see plenty of time in the designated hitter spot with Brent Rooker on the injured list, as well as some time at first base whenever Kurtz needs a break from the field. Just like he helped Las Vegas to a PCL playoff spot, Meneses and his slugging bat could help the A’s as they push for a playoff spot, entering Monday 38-40 in second place in the AL West as they trailed the Mariners by 1 1/2 games.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity with this team,” Meneses said. “It’s a good challenge to be on a team that is fighting for a playoff spot and division title. I’m going to do all I can to help.”