Meneses' Mother's Day message from mom manifests first homer

BOSTON – Mother’s Day across baseball is always special. The players and coaches wear special pink-trimmed hats, jerseys and gear. Teams often put out videos of players wishing their moms and wives a happy Mother’s Day. Even mascots get to celebrate with their moms.

But this Mother’s Day is extra special for Joey Meneses thanks to a message from his mom, Lupita Ramirez, on Friday.

The Nationals are playing their first series at Fenway Park since 2020. Before the opener on Friday, many of the young players took a tour of the historic ballpark, including the iconic Green Monster.

Meneses was one of them. Despite playing in the Red Sox’s minor league system in 2021, the 31-year-old had never played at Fenway before this weekend.

Friday also just happened to be Mother’s Day back in his home country of Mexico. So when he was done with the tour, Meneses sent a video of the Green Monster to his mom, whose reply manifested what would happen Saturday in the second inning.

Meneses hit his first home run of the year yesterday, turning on a 2-2 slider from Cooper Criswell and hitting it 388 feet over the Green Monster he toured less than 24 hours prior.

A special moment that was made even more special because of that conversation with his mom the day before.

“It's a great feeling to hit your first home run,” Meneses said Saturday via interpreter Octavio Martinez. “And then also because my mom told me yesterday that I was going to hit my first home in this series here, so that was special.”

What was the message exactly?

“I came yesterday to take the tour of this historic ballpark,” he said. “And I sent her a video of taking the tour of the Green Monster. It's a very historic ballpark, so I sent it to her. And that's when she told me that I was gonna do it here.”

And for that to happen on Mother’s Day Weekend is a story that even the biggest romantics in New England can’t make up.

“Very special, especially since it was Mother's Day yesterday in Mexico and it's Mother's Day here tomorrow,” Meneses said. “So obviously it's very special, especially since she's the one that told me. I definitely dedicate it to her and to my wife.”

Meneses’ wife Mitzy Guzman and their 1-year-old son Joseph are here in Boston with him. They watched from the old seats at Fenway as he rounded the bases with his arms spread wide with joy.

“Obviously, I was very excited,” Meneses said. “And as I'm rounding, I take a deep breath, kind of like in a sense of relief, because it was my first one. Finally.”

Another special moment.

As for his message back to his mom for her home run prediction: “Please tell me more often.”