PHOENIX — The Joey Meneses story keeps getting better, and he’s deservedly enjoying that journey.
Meneses made his big-league debut last season after spending 10 seasons in the minors. He didn’t even reach Triple-A until he was seven years into his minor-league career. But his strong showing with the Nationals in 2022 was enough to earn him a spot on Mexico’s World Baseball Classic squad, and on Sunday, he showed exactly why he belonged on this stage.
Meneses put Mexico on the board with a first-inning, two-run home run against Team USA. And then he blew the game open with a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
BREAK OUT THE HOME RUN SOMBRERO!
Joey Meneses homers AGAIN and Mexico leads USA 7-! 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/lzwnBHyR20
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 13, 2023
But keep an eye on the bat flip. I mean, Meneses straight-up threw that thing to the moon.
This bat flip from Joey Meneses 🤣🤣
"Maybe the highest bat flip I've ever seen!" -Buck Martinez#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/azEoSTqGMu
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) March 13, 2023
And here’s a shot from the stands. That bat had some SERIOUS hang time.
What a Bat Flip! 🇲🇽⚾️ pic.twitter.com/FBLGMUyoHe
— Pedro Flores (@pedronoswag15) March 13, 2023
He waited 10 years for a moment like that, and fans absolutely loved it.
This was how Twitter reacted
bat flip to the moon https://t.co/V5DJmSIVJg
— joey (@joeygrundl) March 13, 2023
the bat flip🤌🏻 https://t.co/r28u2Zfvvl
— alex ervin (@alexervin928) March 13, 2023
https://t.co/lzjUiuM58b pic.twitter.com/th2wX1CKQ7
— José Luis Madrid (@jlms_16) March 13, 2023
is this what hope looks like? https://t.co/h3SLf6uY32
— Nick Teeling (@TeelingNicholas) March 13, 2023
Going on the Mount Rushmore of bat flips https://t.co/AEDd0FRlWj
— Losses Above Replacement (@LAR_Baseball) March 13, 2023
Ok that’s a great caption https://t.co/5KmQT3W7vP
— andy ~ in my defense i have none (@andylanechapman) March 13, 2023
It’s Joey’s world. We just live in it. #WorldBaseballClassic https://t.co/1OGWNcftyM
— Dr. Meredith Wills (@Bbl_Astrophyscs) March 13, 2023
joey you magical man i love you https://t.co/qlPrx5DIOD
— emme!🍦 (@gr1ssoms) March 13, 2023
THE FLIP https://t.co/JO6KIXamFy
— big baseball fan again (@jmud12) March 13, 2023
Highest bat flip ever? 🤣
Good for Menses! https://t.co/20EcqEhuhV
— First Pitch Ozzie (@FirstPitchOzzie) March 13, 2023
He was hearing MVP chants at Chase Field by the sixth inning.
