Move Over Brian Schneider, The Bell Thole(s) For Thee

The New York Mets aren’t rich with position prospects. Sure they have Fernando Martinez and Wilmer Flores, but that’s really it for top prospects. So when the Mets called up C Joshua Thole, it caught me by surprise.

I wasn’t surprised the Mets were trying to find an internal replacement for the incumbent Brian Schneider. Schneider is a free agent at the end of this year and doesn’t figure to be back with the Mets in 2010.

Here is what surprised me: Thole, a converted catcher, has only been catching full-time since last May. The position of catcher is far and away the hardest position to learn how to play. Regardless if Thole is ready or not, for Thole to make the majors after spending roughly a year and a half at the position is pretty impressive.

Thole doesn’t have much power, as his eight homeruns in five minor league seasons indicates. He does, however, have a good eye (.379 minor league OBP) at the plate which he hasn’t shown in the major leagues yet. Thole hasn’t walked in 14 AB’s with the Mets.

If you were to ask me, I think he looks like a left-handed Jason Kendall when he was with the Brewers, not the Pirates.

Here are some other facts about Joshua Thole:

Age: 22

College: None. Went to Mater Dei High School in Illinois

Drafted: 13th round of the 2005 draft

Minor League Stats:

2005 Rookie: .269 with one HR, 12 RBI, and a .406 OBP in 35 games

2006 Rookie: .235 with one HR, 12 RBI, and a .300 OBP in 36 games

2007 Single A: .267 with zero HR, 36 RBI and a .372 OBP in 117 games

2008 Single A+: .300 with five HR, 56 RBI and a .382 OBP in 111 games

2009 Double A: .328 with one HR, and 46 RBI and a .395 OBP in 103 games

Keith Law Ranking and Analysis