Joe Thurston

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name = Joe Thurston
team = Boston Red Sox
number = 3
position = Utility player
birthdate = birth date and age|1979|9|29
birthplace = city-state|Fairfield|California
bats = Left
throws = Right
debutdate = September 2
debutyear = 2002
debutteam = Los Angeles Dodgers
statyear = September 1, 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .227
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 0
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 2
teams =
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2002-by|2004)
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|2006)
*Boston Red Sox (by|2008)

Joseph William Thurston (born September 29, 1979 in city-state|Fairfield|California) is a Major League Baseball utility player in the Boston Red Sox organization.

Professional career

Thurston graduated from Vallejo High School in Vallejo, California. He was originally selected in by|1997 by the Boston Red Sox in the 45th round (1,332nd overall) of the Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign with them and instead went to Sacramento City College. He was drafted again in by|1999, this time by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 4th round (134th) of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft.

Thurston made his major-league debut on September 2, mlby|2002 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was also a September call-up in mlby|2003 and was little more than a September call-up in mlby|2004.

On July 29, mlby|2005, he was sent to the New York Yankees as part of a conditional deal. He played for their Triple-A team, the Columbus Clippers and was granted free agency after the season.

He signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 11, by|2006. He was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin the season and his contract purchased on August 22, 2006. He would stay with the Phillies for the rest of the season and played in 18 games going 4-18 (.222 batting average). He was released after the season. On November 6, he signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals that included an invite to spring training. He did not make the major league club and was released.

He was then once again picked up by the Philadelphia Phillies and was assigned to their Double-A team, the Reading Phillies. He played four games for the Reading Phillies before earning a callup to Triple-A Ottawa. He had his contract purchased by the big league club on July 27, mlby|2007, after second baseman Chase Utley was placed on the disabled list. He was demoted the next day after the acquisition of Tadahito Iguchi. Thurston spent the rest of the 2007 season with Ottawa. He became a free agent after the season. On December 13, Thurston signed with the Boston Red Sox to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. On March 19, mlby|2008 he was assigned to the minor league camp. [cite web
url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&year=2008&month=3 | title=MLB Transactions: March 2008 | publisher=MLB.com |date= |accessdate=2008-03-25] On April 16, he was brought up to the Red Sox from Pawtucket to replace the injured Alex Cora. [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2007/12/14/flyers_richards_agree_on_12_year_deal/ | title=Sports Log: Red Sox sign 8 to minor league deals | publisher=Boston Globe |date=2007-12-14 |accessdate=2008-03-19]

On April 22, 2008, Thurston was designated for assignment.

Awards and recognition

* 2000 - Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year, California League All-Star SS
* 2002 - Baseball America 2nd team Minor League All-Star 2B, Triple-A All-Star 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year, Pacific League All-Star 2B, AAA Player of the Year
* 2006 - International League All-Star 2B

References

External links

*baseballstats | mlb=5028 | espn=28844 | br=t/thursjo01 | fangraphs=673 | cube=T/Joe-Thurston
* [http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=14525 Baseball Reference] minor league statistics
* [http://www.soxprospects.com/players/thurston-joe.htm SoxProspects] Biography