After struggling in his first professional season in 1986 with the Gulf Coast Yankees, Meulens made a splash in 1987 with Single-A Prince William, hitting .300 with 28 HR and 103 RBI, also being named to the Carolina League All-Star team.

Meulens' impressive 1990 season earned him a spot on the Yankees roster in 1991,[5] but he was back in Columbus in 1992 to help lead the Clippers to the Governors' Cup Championship.

Meulens never attained a permanent spot on the New York lineup, despite spending the entire 1991 season on the Yankees roster.

The following season, Meulens signed with the Yakult Swallows, helping lead them to the 1995 Japan Series championship after hitting 29 home runs and totaling 80 RBI.

In 2009, Meulens served as hitting coach for the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple–A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants of the Pacific Coast League.

In November 2017, Meulens became one of six candidates interviewed by the New York Yankees for their vacant manager position, following the decision not to renew the contract of Joe Girardi.

The other candidates were Carlos Beltran, Aaron Boone, Rob Thomson, Eric Wedge and Chris Woodward.

[17] Meulens returned to the Netherlands national team as a coach for the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

[19] MAfter a disappointing showing at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Meulens was dismissed as the Netherlands manager in December 2023.