Former Sand Gnat Josh Thole Called Up To New York
September 1, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
NEW YORK - Former Sand Gnat Josh Thole was recalled by the New York Mets late Monday night and is expected to join the team on Tuesday in Colorado making him the first Sand Gnat to be promoted to New York since the Mets and Sand Gnats signed a PDC prior to the 2007 season. Thole is two seasons removed from playing in Savannah.
The Breese, Ill. native spent the entire 2007 with the Sand Gnats and spent most of his time playing first base. In 2008, Thole was promoted to High-A St. Lucie where he became the Mets every day catcher and an eventual mid-season and post-season All-Star. Thole led the team with a .300 batting average, which was also tied for fifth best in the league.
His play in St. Lucie earned him a trip to the Arizona Fall League where he played in 19 games and hit .319 with two home runs and 17 RBI. The impressive play in the Fall League led him to his first big-league camp invite this spring before he was sent to Binghamton. He played in 11 spring training games hitting .250 (3-for-12).
With the B-Mets this season, Thole continued his stellar hitting as he was named a mid-season Eastern League All-Star. Unfortunately for Thole he couldn't participate due to a dislocated left thumb. At the time of his promotion to New York on Monday, Thole was batting .328 (third best in the Eastern League) with 46 RBI.
The 22-year-old Thole was a 13th round draft pick in 2005.
Savannah (29-30, 64-65) will begin the first of its three games within a 24-hour time period as they play the first game of a doubleheader beginning at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday evening. Southpaws Robert Carson (8-9, 2.89) and Ari Ronick (6-5, 2.63) will mix it up in the first game while Armando Rodriguez (1-0, 1.59) and Andrew Reichard (3-4, 2.60) will face off in game two.
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- GreenJackets Extend "Fan Appreciation Weekend" - Augusta GreenJackets
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- Former Sand Gnat Josh Thole Called Up To New York - Savannah Sand Gnats
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