Joe Thurston

In 2001, Thurston was ranked the 9th-best prospect in the Dodgers' system after posting a .338 OBP in AA Jacksonville, and by 2002 few prospects appeared to have a brighter future than the 22-year-old second baseman. Playing for the Las Vegas 51s of the AAA Pacific Coast League, Thurston hit .334 with an .878 OPS and 22 stolen bases in 2002, earning him the L.A. Dodgers' Minor League Player of the Year Award and Baseball America's AAA Player of the Year honors. Thurston made his major-league debut on September 2, 2002 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .462 in 8 games.[1]

But 2002 would ultimately be the peak of Thurston's minor-league career. Returning to AAA in 2003, his OPS fell to .746, and it slipped further (to .721) in 2004. He was again a late-season call-up in 2003 and 2004, but he hit just .185 in the two seasons combined. The expectation that he would be a future star had evaporated. On July 29, 2005, the Dodgers shipped Thurston 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, 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 invitation 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, 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, 2008 he was assigned to the minor league camp.[2] On April 16, he was brought up to the Red Sox from Pawtucket to replace the injured Alex Cora.[3]

On April 22, 2008, Thurston was designated for assignment and subsequently played in the Puerto Rican winter league in 2008 on a team managed by Eduardo Pérez. Pérez was impressed with Thurston's versatility and thought his style of play would be a good fit with manager Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals. Perez recommended Thurston to LaRussa,[4] and on December 16, 2008 he signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. He made his debut with the Cardinals on April 6, 2009 as a pinch runner. He also played third base and scored a run.

Thurston earned his first significant major league playing time as a utility player with the 2009 Cardinals. He frequently played third base before the Cardinals acquired Mark DeRosa, and also appeared at second base, in left field, and as a pinch hitter. In November 2009, Thurston was granted free agency.

On December 18, 2009, Thurston signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He also received an invite to spring training.

Thurston enjoyed a terrific season with Class AAA New Orleans Zephyrs in 2011. He led the team in almost every offensive category at the time of his promotion to the Marlins on August 5. He became a free agent at season's end.

The Houston Astros signed him to a minor league contract on November 13, 2011. He also received an invitation to spring training. He was released by the Astros on March 28, 2012.

Just an hour later, however, he was signed to a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released by the Phillies on April 23 after just 11 games with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Thurston played 54 games with the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League in 2012.

He then signed with the Minnesota Twins on April 25 and was assigned to the Rochester Red Wings. On May 14, 2012, Thurston was released by the Minnesota Twins.

In 2013, Thurston played 21 games with the Lancaster Barnstormers, another Atlantic League team.

On March 6, 2013, Thurston signed with the Leones de Yucatán (Yucatán Lions) in the Mexican Baseball League. Thurston apparently signed with the team for one year.[5] Thurston is to make his debut pending a traveling visa.[6]

Thurston also played for the Bravos de Margarita, Cardenales de Lara and Pastora de los Llanos clubs of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.[7]

Thurston signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 25, 2014, and was released on March 27.

On March 6, 2015, Thurston signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.