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Atlanta Braves Scouting Report 1B/OF Joey Meneses

By Benjamin Chase

May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Braves have been known for signing international guys a year or two after most stop scouting guys. One of those guys signed “late” was Joey Meneses out of Mexico. After tearing up high-A this year, what could he be?

Who Is He?

Meneses was signed at 19 out of Mexico, signing in July and immediately getting into pro ball. While he was seen as a pitcher by many, the Braves focused him as a hitter, and he’s shown solid swinging his entire career. His first assignment was the Dominican Summer League, and in just 19 games, he hit .206/.286/.206 with a 7/14 BB/K ratio.

The Braves saw enough in that short stint to bring Meneses stateside in 2012. He flashed some surprising athleticism for a corner bat with the GCL Braves as he hit .303/.352/.407 with 5 triples and a 9/29 BB/K ratio.

He was skipped up to Rome in 2013, and the Braves reportedly had some issues with his conditioning as he hit .257/.308/.349 with 21 doubles and 4 triples along with a 28/97 BB/K ratio over 414 plate appearances in his first year in full season ball.

Meneses was sent back to Rome in 2014 and transitioned to first base. He hit much better in his return to Rome, but he struggled to stay healthy and on the field as he only played 58 games. Meneses hit .283/.354/.495 with 8 home runs and a 22/48 BB/K ratio in 238 plate appearances, flashing power and contact promise that the team could dream on from the right hand side of the plate.

Moved up to high-A Carolina in 2015, the Braves hoped that the 2014 results would continue, but Meneses simply stalled, hitting .239/.298/.327 with a 32/80 BB/K ratio over 433 plate appearances, and it began to look like Meneses may end up as an org bat.

That was until he returned to Carolina to start the 2016 season. He was notably in better shape, looking both stronger and more athletic. With Carolina, he jumped out strong, hitting .400 for a long time and when he was promoted to Mississippi in late June, Meneses was still hitting .342/.401/.490 with 19 doubles and 5 home runs, sporting a 24/38 BB/K ratio over 269 plate appearances. The Braves moved Meneses not just to Mississippi, but also to the outfield again, and he struggled with the combination of moves, hitting .234/.289/.329, but he did finish the season strong, hitting .276/.344/.431 after Dansby Swanson was promoted to the majors, when it seemed the rest of Mississippi’s offense went in the tank. He carried that over into the playoffs, where he hit .440/.500/.560 in Mississippi’s playoff run.

Next: Meneses's scouting report

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