Joey Meneses’ dominant first half has earned him another opportunity in the major leagues.
The Athletics selected the contract of the veteran first baseman from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, rewarding one of the Pacific Coast League’s hottest hitters during the Aviators’ surge to the first-half championship.
Meneses immediately made an impact, delivering an RBI single on the first pitch he saw Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels.
The call-up was impossible to ignore
While Meneses has become one of Triple-A baseball’s most productive hitters this season, he also brings a proven major league resume.
The 33-year-old owns a .274 career batting average with 29 home runs, 61 doubles and 165 RBIs in 287 major league games. He burst onto the scene in 2022 with Washington, batting .324 with 13 home runs and a .930 OPS in 56 games. He followed with a 154-game season in 2023, hitting .275 with 13 home runs and 89 RBIs while establishing himself as an everyday big leaguer.
This season, Meneses forced his way back to the majors by crushing Pacific Coast League pitching. He entered Sunday’s action leading the league with a .348 batting average while posting a .944 OPS, 11 home runs, 20 doubles and 76 RBIs in 69 games for Las Vegas.
His production became impossible for Oakland to ignore. Meneses anchored one of Triple-A baseball’s most dangerous lineups and delivered consistently throughout the first half.
The engine behind Las Vegas’ surge
The promotion comes at a fitting time for both player and team.
Las Vegas clinched the Pacific Coast League first-half title Saturday and secured a postseason berth after one of its strongest stretches of the season. Meneses played a major role in that run.
Over the past two weeks, the veteran slugger helped power an offense that climbed to the top of the league standings. Tommy White continued his rapid rise with a series of clutch performances and a recent home run streak. Meanwhile, Brett Harris remained one of the Pacific Coast League’s most consistent run producers. Cade Marlowe and Jared Dickey also delivered key hits during the club’s surge into first place.
The Aviators enter the final day of the first half at 44-28 and have secured home-field advantage for the Pacific Coast League Championship Series in September.
Promotions, departures and a changing roster
Meneses was one of several roster moves announced by Oakland.
The Athletics also selected the contract of left-hander Matt Krook, who posted a 3.72 ERA in 25 appearances for Las Vegas this season. Krook recently earned a victory during the Aviators’ comeback win over Round Rock and gives Oakland a third left-handed option in its bullpen.
To create roster space, the Athletics designated veteran reliever Scott Barlow for assignment. Barlow appeared in 36 games for Oakland but struggled to a 6.48 ERA this season, including a difficult stretch in June.
Oakland also optioned infielder Alika Williams to Las Vegas and transferred right-hander Luis Severino from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list because of a right shoulder strain.
The promotion also comes with designated hitter Brent Rooker remaining on the injured list since June 9, potentially creating additional opportunities for Meneses to earn regular at-bats.
For Meneses, the call-up serves as the reward for one of the best first halves in Triple-A baseball. After helping lead Las Vegas to another division title and playoff berth, he now gets another chance to prove he belongs in the major leagues.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
