Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on OF Joey Meneses
Atlanta Braves prospect Joey Meneses had a big offensive season while transitioning to the outfield. Could he be up in 2017?
Player Profile
The Atlanta Braves signed Joey Meneses out of Mexico in 2011 at age 18.
He had turned 19 by the time he opened with the Braves Dominican Summer League affiliate in 2011, where he hit .206/.286/.206 with a 10% walk rate and a 20% strike out rate.
The Braves brought Meneses state side in 2012, placing him in their Gulf Coast League affiliate, where he absolutely raked at the plate, hitting .303/.352/.407. He had no home runs and 2 stolen bases, but did hit 5 triples. He also posted a 5.66% walk rate and an 18.24% strike out rate.
Meneses skipped over Danville straight to low-A Rome in the South Atlantic League in 2013. The jump seemed to stall his bat a bit, as he hit .257/.308/.349 with 2 home runs and a stolen base, posting a 6.76% walk rate and 23.43% strikeout rate.
He returned that winter to his native Mexico to play winter ball in the Mexican League, and he got his bat back on track there, hitting .326/.407/.500 with 2 home runs and a stolen base, posting a 12.96% walk rate and 25.93% strikeout rate.
He fought through an injury-laden 2014 after returning to Rome. He hit very well when healthy, but only played 58 games there due to health issues. Adding in his rehab games, he had a .288/.355/.496 line with 8 home runs and 2 stolen bases, posting a 8.73% walk rate and 19.05% strike out rate.
He played more extensively in the Mexican League that winter, playing 45 games, hitting .270/.319/.444 with 4 home runs and a steal, posting a 5.15% walk rate and 25.74% strikeout rate.
The Braves moved Meneses up to Carolina in 2015, and he continued his trend of struggling at a level at first glance at that level, hitting .239/.298/.327 with 3 home runs and 2 stolen bases. He also added a 7.39% walk rate and 18.48% strike out rate.
His winter in Mexico was a near repeat of his line from the previous winter, hitting .271/.333/.370 with 3 home runs and 2 stolen bases, posting a 6.86% walk rate, and a 21.57% strikeout rate.
2016 was a true breakout year for Meneses. He showed up to camp notably trimmer, looking ready to work hard on the season, and the results were immediate in his return to Carolina.
Meneses earned a promotion to Mississippi with his stellar hitting, but he once again hit his “first time at a level” wall, though a big part of that had to do with Meneses being moved to the outfield with Mississippi after primarily playing first base to that point in his minor league career.
Combined on the season, Meneses hit .290/.348/.413 with 7 home runs and 2 stolen bases. He also posted a 7.66% walk rate and a 15.32% strikeout rate.
Next: Meneses' scouting report