Mater Dei graduate Josh Thole signs minor league deal with N.Y. Yankees
The New York Yankees announced Thursday they have signed veteran catcher and Mater Dei High School graduate Josh Thole to a minor league contract.
Thole 33, who has spent eight years in the major leagues both with the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels organizations a year ago. Splitting time between Class AA Tulsa and Class AAA Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City, Thole played in 72 games, batting .243 with three home runs and 26 RBI.
Thole has a career major league average of .242 with nine home runs and 111 RBI. Known more his defense, Thole spent several years as the personal catcher of knuckle ball pitcher RA Dickey. He last played in the major leagues in 2016 as a member of the Blue Jays.
Thole sat out the entire 2017 season with an injury. Thole is the third catcher signed by the Yankees this offseason as insurance for Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka.
Thole will make $600,000 if he makes it the major leagues in 2020.
