Joe Thurston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Thurston |
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Thurston with the St. Louis Cardinals
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| Third baseman / Second baseman | ||||||||||||||
| Born: September 29, 1979 Fairfield, California, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| September 2, 2002, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||
| August 5, 2011, for the Florida Marlins | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .226 | |||||||||||||
| Home runs | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 27 | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Joseph William Thurston (born September 29, 1979) is an American who used to play professional baseball. He was a third baseman and second baseman. Joe played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These teams included the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Florida Marlins.
Contents
Joe Thurston: A Baseball Journey
Joe Thurston had an interesting career in baseball. He played for many different teams and later became a coach. He was known for being a versatile player. This means he could play in different positions on the field.
Early Days and College Baseball
Joe Thurston grew up in Vallejo, California. He went to Vallejo High School. After high school, he was first chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the 1997 MLB draft. This is when professional teams pick young players. However, Joe decided not to sign with them.
Instead, he went to Sacramento City College. While playing for the college team, the Panthers, he hit the game-winning ball. This helped his team win the state championship in 1999.
Starting His Pro Journey: The Dodgers
In 1999, Joe was chosen again in the MLB draft. This time, the Los Angeles Dodgers picked him. He started playing in their minor league system. Minor leagues are like training grounds for players before they reach the big leagues.
By 2001, Joe was seen as a promising young player for the Dodgers. He played for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. In 2002, he played for the Las Vegas 51s, a Triple-A team. He had a great year, hitting for a high average and stealing many bases. He was even named the Dodgers' Minor League Player of the Year. Baseball America also called him the AAA Player of the Year.
Joe made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 2, 2002. He played well in his first few games. However, his performance in the minor leagues started to slow down in 2003 and 2004. He was called up to the Dodgers again in those years but did not hit as well. In 2005, the Dodgers traded him to the New York Yankees. After that season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Playing for Different Teams
Joe Thurston continued his baseball career by playing for several other teams.
Philadelphia Phillies
In 2006, Joe signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played for their Triple-A team before joining the Phillies in the major leagues for 18 games. After that season, he was released. He later signed with the Washington Nationals but did not make their main team.
He then returned to the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He played in their minor league system again. In 2007, he was called up to the Phillies briefly when another player was injured. He spent most of that year in Triple-A.
Boston Red Sox
In 2008, Joe signed with the Boston Red Sox. He was called up to the Red Sox from their minor league team, the Pawtucket Red Sox, in April. This happened when another player, Alex Cora, was injured.
St. Louis Cardinals
Later in 2008, Joe joined the St. Louis Cardinals. A manager he played for in a winter league recommended him. Joe made his debut with the Cardinals on April 6, 2009. He often played as a utility player for the Cardinals. This means he could play in different positions, like third base, second base, and left field. He also sometimes came into games as a pinch hitter or pinch runner.
Other Teams and Leagues
After the Cardinals, Joe signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2009. In 2011, he played very well for the Triple-A team of the Florida Marlins, the New Orleans Zephyrs. He was promoted to the Marlins in August but was soon designated for assignment. This means the team removed him from their main roster.
Joe continued to play baseball for several more years. He signed minor league contracts with the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies again in 2012. He also played for independent league teams like the York Revolution and the Lancaster Barnstormers. Independent leagues are not part of Major League Baseball. He also played in international leagues, including the Mexican Baseball League and the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. In 2014, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, and in 2015, he returned to the Boston Red Sox organization.
From Player to Coach
After his playing career, Joe Thurston became a baseball coach.
Boston Red Sox Coaching
In 2015, he was hired as a coach for the Portland Sea Dogs. This team is a Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
Cincinnati Reds Coaching
In 2016, Joe became the hitting coach for the Billings Mustangs. This team is a rookie-level affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
Seattle Mariners Coaching
In 2017, he became the hitting coach for the Modesto Nuts, a Single-A team for the Seattle Mariners. He was later promoted to be the hitting coach for the Everett AquaSox in 2019. In 2020, Joe was the first base coach for the main Seattle Mariners team.
Philadelphia Phillies Coaching
Since 2022, Joe Thurston has been the hitting coach for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. This is the Triple-A team for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Houston Astros Coaching
Joe Thurston is set to become the hitting coach for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys in 2025. This team is the Triple-A affiliate for the Houston Astros.
Personal Life
Joe Thurston became a father in 2009 when his first child was born.
Awards and Achievements
Joe Thurston received several awards and recognitions during his playing career:
- 2000 – Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year
- 2002 – Baseball America 2nd team Minor League All-Star 2B, Triple-A All-Star 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year, AAA Player of the Year
- 2005 – Pacific Coast League All-Star 2B
- 2006 – International League All-Star 2B
- 2011 – IBAF Baseball World Cup All-Star 2B
