Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported Monday that the Phillies are releasing Triple-A OF/1B Joey Meneses. The reason is so Meneses can pursue a career with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan.
Meneses, 26, hit .311 with 23 home runs in 130 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2018. Many fans called for Meneses to be called up to the majors when the Phillies outfield struggled offensively over the summer. Despite their pleas, Meneses was never added to the Phillies 40-man roster. Instead, Meneses went on to win International League MVP for the IronPigs.
2018 was Meneses’ first year with the Phillies organization, after spending the first seven years of his minor league career with the Braves.