The Nationals optioned Meneses to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday.
Through 313 plate appearances, Meneses has slashed just .231/.291/.306 -- his worst season at the plate in his three-year MLB career -- and he'll now attempt to right the ship in the minors. Meanwhile, the Nationals will likely turn to Harold Ramirez or Ildemaro Vargas to start at first base until Joey Gallo (hamstring) is able to return from the injured list.
Meneses went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Monday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Padres.
All three of Meneses' hits drove in a run to erase the Padres' early 3-0 lead. He's been hitting well lately, going 15-for-46 (.326) with 10 RBI and five extra-base hits over his last 13 games. Meneses is at a .246/.302/.327 slash line for the year while adding three home runs, two stolen bases, 40 RBI and 18 runs scored over 275 plate appearances. He had a slow start in 2023 as well, but he'd need a big second half to get up to his level from last year (.275/.321/.401).
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Joey Meneses: Homers, drives in three in win
Rotowire
Meneses went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in a 4-0 win over the Marlins on Saturday.
Meneses opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first inning then hit a two-run home run in the eighth. Meneses has enjoyed a modest five-game hit streak in which he has gone 7-for-15 with a homer and six RBI. Meneses had been losing out on playing time recently but is making the most of his opportunities since Joey Gallo (hamstring) hit the injured list Wednesday. On the season, Meneses is slashing .244/.305/.332 with three home runs and 36 RBI over 243 plate appearances.
Meneses will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Meneses had been on the bench for each of the Nationals' previous three games, but he'll get the first opportunity to enter the lineup in place of Joey Gallo (hamstring), who landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. After turning in a .722 OPS in his first full season in the big leagues in 2023, Meneses has taken a big step back thus far in 2024, slashing just .232/.292/.296 with a miniscule .064 ISO across 226 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Joey Meneses: Heating up at plate
Rotowire
Meneses went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over Atlanta.
The 32-year-old has five hits in his last two games, and starting with a May 14 doubleheader against the Red Sox, Meneses is slashing .333/.385/.438 with two doubles, a homer and seven RBI over 13 contests. With the Nationals' lineup fully healthy again, Meneses will need to keep hitting if he wants to maintain regular playing time between first base and DH.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Joey Meneses: Losing out on regular role
Rotowire
Meneses is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Though he kept his spot on the 26-man active roster when the Nationals brought back Lane Thomas (knee) from the injured list Monday, Meneses appears to be the odd man out of the starting nine in the wake of the outfielder's return. Jesse Winker has served as the Nationals' designated hitter in two of the three games in Atlanta while Joey Gallo has started at first base twice during the series, closing off Meneses' primary avenues to playing time. Meneses should still have a spot in the lineup versus lefties, but the lefty-hitting Winker and Gallo appear poised to start ahead of him against righties.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Joey Meneses: Might lose roster spot
Rotowire
Meneses could be optioned to Triple-A Rochester when Lane Thomas (knee) is ready to come off the injured list, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The 32-year-old has been an everyday player for the Nationals this season between first base and DH, but he's managed just a .234/.299/.299 slash line in 43 games with two homers and 24 RBI. Victor Robles is the more likely candidate to get booted from the 26-man roster to make room for Thomas, but Robles is out of minor-league options and would have to be exposed to waivers, while Meneses could be optioned to Triple-A without any risk of losing him. Jesse Winker would likely become the primary DH in that scenario.
