Josh Thole
Encyclopedia
Joshua Michael "Josh" Thole (born October 28, 1986) is an American professional baseball player. He currently plays catcher
for the New York Mets
of Major League Baseball
.
, and attended Mater Dei High school
.
in the 13th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
. In AA Binghamton
, Thole established himself as a solid single
s hitter.
"gushed" about Thole's catcher skills. In 2009, Thole stated, "My throwing is still coming along." On August 31, 2009, Thole was called up to the major leagues. In his first major league at-bat, he singled to record his first major league hit.
, Thole was called up to the Mets in June. On July 20, 2010, Thole hit his first major league home run
, a solo homer, off of Barry Enright
in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks
at Chase Field
to give the Mets their first run of the game (3-1). They would lose that game 3-2.
On October 1, 2010, he hit a walk-off home run off Tyler Clippard
to give the Mets a 2-1 win.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Early years
Thole grew up in Breese, IllinoisBreese, Illinois
Breese is a large town in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,221 which the majority are of German ancestry.-History:...
, and attended Mater Dei High school
Mater Dei High School (Breese, Illinois)
Mater Dei High School is a Catholic, co-educational high school in Breese, Illinois in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville. It was founded in 1954 through the merger of St. Dominic’s High School in Breese and St...
.
Professional career
Thole was drafted by the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in the 13th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
. In AA Binghamton
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
, Thole established himself as a solid single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
s hitter.
2009
After viewing Thole in the 2009 spring training, Mets pitching coach Dan WarthenDan Warthen
Daniel Dean Warthen is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current coach for the Brooklyn Cyclones Daniel Dean Warthen (born December 1, 1952, in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current coach for the Brooklyn...
"gushed" about Thole's catcher skills. In 2009, Thole stated, "My throwing is still coming along." On August 31, 2009, Thole was called up to the major leagues. In his first major league at-bat, he singled to record his first major league hit.
2010
After spending much of the 2010 season in AAA BuffaloBuffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, Thole was called up to the Mets in June. On July 20, 2010, Thole hit his first major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, a solo homer, off of Barry Enright
Barry Enright
Barry Ryan Enright is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher currently on the Arizona Diamondbacks active roster....
in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
at Chase Field
Chase Field
Chase Field is a baseball stadium located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. It opened in , just in time for the Diamondbacks' first game as an expansion team...
to give the Mets their first run of the game (3-1). They would lose that game 3-2.
On October 1, 2010, he hit a walk-off home run off Tyler Clippard
Tyler Clippard
Tyler Lee Clippard is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.-New York Yankees:Clippard was drafted in the 9th round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees out of J. W. Mitchell High School...
to give the Mets a 2-1 win.