The incredible story of Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Meneses continues. The 30-year-old rookie delivered on Thursday with a walk-off, three-run homer to lift the Nationals over the Oakland Athletics in 10 innings.
The Nationals were down to their last out, trailing 5-4 with two runners on base. That’s when Meneses blasted an 86 mph slider from Athletics reliever Norge Ruiz over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center for the Nationals’ first walk-off of the season.
If you’re not familiar with the story of Joey Meneses, here’s a tidbit. Meneses spent 10 years playing between minor league baseball, Mexico and Japan before the Nationals called him up on Aug. 2 following the Juan Soto trade.
He homered in his first game and has never looked back. Thursday against the A’s, Meneses had four hits in six at-bats. That walk-off blast was his 35th through 25 games. He now holds the Nationals’ record for most hits in the first 25 games of a career.
Nationals catcher Trea Barrera serenaded Meneses with a Gatorade bath after the game.
Meneses is hitting .354/.385/.626 with seven home runs and 15 RBI.
He’s become the Nationals’ main attraction in the wake of Soto being traded to the San Diego Padres last month.
Meneses has taken full advantage of his first opportunity in the majors. His start is historic. As pitchers learn him, he’s been spectacular at the plate. Literally, the Nationals haven’t seen anything like it.
He is pushing open the cracked door. In what’s considered a lost season, Meneses has cultivated Nationals fans into something worthwhile heading towards the end of the season.
