The Carolina Mudcats return to Five County Stadium for the first time since the All-Star Break this week, but star Joey Meneses won't be in the lineup. His hard work and reliability at the plate helped lead the team in the first half of the season before earning him promotion to the AA Mississippi Braves and his improvement is just the type of example that serves the team well.

“(Joey's) consistency has been good through the first three months of the season, it’s been the key for us," hitting coach Carlos Mendez said. "He always – day in and day out – puts in good at bats. Even when he doesn’t get hits, he actually gets a lot of pitches every at bat and (was) helping other guys to see."

The way Meneses struggled in 2015, in his first season with the Mudcats, and his ability to rebound to become a leader at the plate this spring is something else the coach is happy his players got the chance to see, too. The 24-year-old said his rough 2015 .239 batting average was the first time he'd ever struggled that much at the late in his life, but it was enough motivation to set up a successful offseason.

“I gained some confidence over the winter,” Meneses said. “It’s not just the approach at the plate, it’s the mental part of the game. (I) struggled at times last year and (I) know (I) have to be mentally strong to be able to go through the ups and downs of the baseball season.”

The first baseman's improved physical strength to start 2016 matched his new, tougher mindset.

“At the beginning of the season, the way he prepared himself for he game, he has this new routine he does," Mendez said. "(It’s) not just for hitting, it’s for practicing too. It’s not like he was out of shape last year, but he’s stronger this year. It makes a big difference in the way he hits the ball. When he hits the ball the other way, the balls carry more. The preparation he put in starting back in October all the way to now, it just makes a big difference in how he’s hitting the ball.”

The 24-year-old became the Carolina Mudcats first position player this year to receive Carolina League Player of the Week honors on June 13. The first baseman hit .500/.519/.692 with three doubles, a triple and seven RBI over six games played from June 6 through June 12 to earn the award and help the Mudcats win six of eight games encompassing that six-game span.

As is the case with all minor leaguers, Meneses said his goal this season was to advance up to AA. Now that he's done that, he'll have to be able to maintain his toughness and consistency at a higher level.

“It’s hard because this is what you do for a living and you try to not let it affect the way you are,” he said. “I don’t (let my success or failure affect my personality), but sometimes you’re doing well and you start overthinking stuff. I try to maintain my personality and being the same off the field hopefully. It’s a long season, there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs.”

Meneses is staying hot. In his first three games with the Mississippi Braves, he posted a .417 batting average.

Mendez points to the player's confidence as a key factor in the change. But ask the Culiacan, Mexico native what the one thing is that made the difference and he answers differently.

“Trabajar duro, no? Y una cosa de trabajar duro," he said. Hard work, one thing -- hard work.