WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - MEXICO VS UNITED STATES

March 12, 2023

Joey Meneses

Chase Field

Team Mexico

Postgame Press Conference

Mexico - 11, USA - 5

Q. Can you describe the emotion when you hit that second home run?

JOEY MENESES: I have no words to describe it. It was a very beautiful sensation with a lot of adrenaline, with the stadium full. There was a drone that came out alone when I threw the bat, and I was just enjoying the moment, that I just only enjoyed, the home run, when I ran the bases.

Q. You talked about being 13 years old watching Mexico beat Team USA in 2006. What was it like for you now being one of those players leading Team Mexico to a victory over Team USA after watching those guys and idolizing them growing up?

JOEY MENESES: Like you said, I have seen in the past World Baseball Classics, Mexico against the United States. I always wanted to participate in one of these. Now that it's happened it's a reality come true, helping Mexico and putting the Mexican name high. I'm very proud as a Mexican. And also more than anything just to show, to let people know that Mexico, there's a lot of talent as well.

Q. That big bat flip after the second home run, what was the emotion? Can you take us through what you were feeling at that moment?

JOEY MENESES: Well, in reality I had a lot of emotion. I don't know how to describe it. It was just super emotional. I just tried to enjoy and enjoyed everything. And I enjoyed the hit, I see the people scream and stand up from their seats. It's something I'll never forget.

Q. Is this your best night of your career, baseball career?

JOEY MENESES: I don't know if it's the best, but I imagine it's one of the best. Obviously when I debuted in Major League Baseball, when I debuted in Mexico. But, yes, it's one of my best games.

Q. We asked Benji what you signify in his career as a manager with Culiacan, with championships, with the Caribbean Series. What does Benji signify in your career?

JOEY MENESES: It means a lot. I've said it before. He gave me the opportunity when I was a kid. And I will always be grateful to him. When I was a novice and he gave me that trust, he made me the player that I am today because we live these experiences throughout, all these experiences that I have acquired with those championships and those moments in Mexico.

Q. Last year, Joey, I don't know if you were part of the training with the Nationals. Could you imagine what all of this that has happened, your debut that you did in August and now this? How different have you changed from one year to today?

JOEY MENESES: No, I wasn't invited for the trainings in the Major League Baseball, but I always had that faith and hope that a moment would come like this in my career. That's why I worked for a long time and I kept going. I didn't give up.

Even if I was in minor leagues I always worked to -- I never imagined it, but I'm living it now, and I'm really enjoying it.

Q. After you had the great two months with Washington last year, was there any thought of just going to, staying with the Nationals the entire time in Spring Training? Or you always wanted to make sure to come back and play for Benji in the WBC?

JOEY MENESES: Yes, there were some doubts, but I was only two months last year with Major League Baseball. But I always dreamed with playing with Mexico. I always dreamed of playing in the Classic.

So I'm very grateful with the Nationals, when I asked them about this. So if they were going to have permission to play this tournament, or the WBC, they said that I should come and enjoy this moment, that there was something very beautiful and I would always have it with me.

Q. The afternoon's interview, you thought this could occur, what happened today with all the at-bats and all the opportunities you gave Mexico to have that control for their own destiny and this group.

JOEY MENESES: To be sincere, no one ever thinks what can happen. I was only trying to help the team, give the best of me and put my heart on the field. And just help Mexico. That's the important -- winning this game was the most important thing, too, so we could still be alive in the tournament.

So just that I never dreamed about it, but things happened and we won. And also personally I had a very good night.

Q. Benji was talking about all the labor, that your night and day was a very difficult day yesterday. Now it changes today. And he said that you guys are family. You think this family has enough to challenge for the title?

JOEY MENESES: Obviously we're here, not only to compete; we have the mentality of winning. In order to compete here, we would not have come. I would have stayed with the Nationals. But the mentality is always about winning.

And we know that there's other teams with more stars, but we have the heart and we have that want. We want to show everybody that in Mexico there's a lot of talent and that we have a lot of triumphs.

Q. That second home run, what did you see from the pitcher that he was -- there was a lot of pause? What type of pitch were you waiting for because of the way he was pitching?

JOEY MENESES: He first threw a sinker. Then he threw two sliders. And then when he threw the two sliders, I already knew, I was prepared. I was looking for that. I knew he was throwing a sinker.

So after that, the two sliders, I was looking for them and I was grateful to be able to hit it.

Q. Benji was telling us that you should have debuted in the Major Leagues in 2018. So this is something negative for the feelings. You lost a lot of views on you, a lot of money after you gained a lot, whatever you gained last year as a novice of 30-year-old. Do you think you have gained the respect from your baseball players, from the MLB, from the fans?

JOEY MENESES: Well, in reality, no. Thank God I had the fortune to be able to debut last year. I think God's plans are perfect. That's -- my turn was to debut last year, not in the 2018. For some reason that's what happened. I always put trust in God that things come when he wants.