Revs continue to rebuild roster by adding Thurston
INF Joe Thurston
The York Revolution continued to rebuild their roster over the weekend. After making several moves earlier in the week, the Revs announced the signing of former big leaguer Joe Thurston on Sunday.
To make room for Thurston on the roster, York moved outfielder Michael Hernandez to the disabled list. Hernandez has been out of action since July 13, when he hyper-extended his left (non-throwing) shoulder when diving for a fly ball.
Thurston comes to York after splitting time earlier this season between Class AAA Lehigh Valley (Phillies) and Class AAA Rochester (Twins).
The California native has seen 184 games of action at the big league level over seven separate seasons split between five different ballclubs. He last reached the majors in 2011 with the Florida (now Miami) Marlins, going 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a strikeout in one game.He saw limited action in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2002 to 2004, the Phillies in 2006, and Boston Red Sox in 2007 before the St. Louis Cardinals gave him an everyday spot for most of the 2009 season. He is a career .226 hitter in the big leagues.
A former fourth-round draft pick of the Dodgers in 1999, Thurston was at one time a big-time prospect for L.A., twice earning the Dodgers’ minor league player of the award (2000 and 2002). He hasn’t played below the Class AAA level since 2001. He owns a career .291 average in more than 1,100 games at the Class AAA level.
Thurston has seen some time in the outfield over his now 15-year pro career. However, it’s likely the Revs won’t need him out there considering they still have four other outfielders in Brandon Haveman, Scott Grimes, Jeff Fiorentino and James Shanks.
