Tommy Joseph

{{Infobox MLB player

| name = Tommy Joseph

| image = 2012 07 11 EL 028 Tommy Joseph Giants.JPG

| caption = Joseph at the 2012 Eastern League All-Star Game

| team = Baltimore Orioles

| number = 81

| position = First baseman / Hitting coach

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|7|16}}

| birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 13

| debutyear = 2016

| debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies

| debut2league= KBO

| debut2date = March 23

| debut2year = 2019

| debut2team = LG Twins

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 30

| finalyear = 2017

| finalteam = Philadelphia Phillies

| final2league= KBO

| final2date = June 27

| final2year = 2019

| final2team = LG Twins

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .247

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 43

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 116

| stat2league = KBO

| stat21label = Batting average

| stat21value = .274

| stat22label = Home runs

| stat22value = 9

| stat23label = Runs batted in

| stat23value = 36

| teams =

;As player

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}})
LG Twins ({{by|2019}})

;As coach

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2024}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Thomas Richard Joseph (born July 16, 1991) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who currently serves as the assistant hitting coach for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies in {{by|2016}} and {{by|2017}}, and in the KBO League for the LG Twins. Joseph is the only player in MLB history to play 2 seasons and hit at least 20 homers in each of those 2 seasons, but not play another season in MLB again.

High school

Joseph attended Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he played for the school's baseball team. A first baseman in his first three years of high school, Joseph became a catcher in his senior year.{{cite news|last=Garcia|first=Jose|title=Giants nab Joseph; Blue Jays pick Barrett|url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/articles/2009/06/09/20090609hsdraft0610.html?nclick_check=1|newspaper=The Arizona Republic|publisher=azcentral.com|access-date=January 9, 2013|date=June 9, 2009}} In 2009, he was named the Arizona high school player of the year.{{cite news|last=Obert|first=Richard|title=Giants' pick Joseph named Player of Year|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/azcentral/access/1745936891.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+12%2C+2009&author=Richard+Obert&pub=Arizona+Republic&desc=Giants%27+pick+Joseph+named+Player+of+Year&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216163421/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/azcentral/access/1745936891.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+12,+2009&author=Richard+Obert&pub=Arizona+Republic&desc=Giants'+pick+Joseph+named+Player+of+Year&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2013|access-date=January 9, 2013|newspaper=The Arizona Republic|date=June 12, 2009}}

Playing career

=San Francisco Giants=

The San Francisco Giants selected Joseph in the second round, with the 55th overall selection, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft as a catcher and first baseman. In 2010, Joseph was named a South Atlantic League all-star for his performance with the Augusta GreenJackets. He suffered a concussion during the 2010 season. The Giants invited Joseph to spring training in 2011.{{cite web|last=Haft|first=Chris|title=Home opener not a concern for rotation|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20110223&content_id=16717306¬ebook_id=16717530&vkey=notebook_sf|work=MLB.com: News|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|date=February 23, 2011|access-date=January 9, 2013}} Joseph played for the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double–A Eastern League in 2012, and appeared in the All-Star Futures Game that year.{{cite web|last=Haft|first=Chris|title=Giants catching prospect Tommy Joseph has solid day in All-Star Futures Game|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120708&content_id=34706532&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf|work=SFGiants.com: News|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|date=July 8, 2012|access-date=January 9, 2013}}

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On July 31, 2012, the Giants traded Joseph with Nate Schierholtz and Seth Rosin to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Hunter Pence.{{cite web|last=Crasnick|first=Jerry|title=San Francisco Giants acquire Hunter Pence from Philadelphia Phillies, source confirms|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8218539/san-francisco-giants-acquire-hunter-pence-philadelphia-phillies-source-confirms|work=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=January 9, 2013}} The Phillies assigned Joseph to the Reading Fightin Phils of the Eastern League. After the 2012 season, he was assigned to the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League (AFL),{{cite web|last=Emerick|first=Tyler|title=Joseph displays potential behind plate in Arizona Fall League|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121017&content_id=39872780&vkey=news_phi&c_id=phi|work=phillies.com: News|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|date=October 17, 2012|access-date=January 9, 2013}} and participated in the AFL Rising Stars Game.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121101&content_id=40148358&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |title=AFL Rising Stars Game is Major for prospects |website=MLB.com |last=Mayo |first=Jonathan |date=November 2, 2012 |access-date=March 6, 2014}}

Joseph played in only 36 games in the 2013 season due to a concussion. The Phillies added him to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2013, to protect him from being exposed to the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-add-four-prospects-to-40-man-roster-protecting-them-from-rule-5-draft/c-64078018|title=Phillies add four prospects to 40-man roster|first=Todd |last=Zolecki|work=MLB.com|date=November 20, 2013|access-date=July 17, 2015}} Joseph suffered a wrist injury in 2014 which limited him to 27 games played, and required season ending surgery.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/tommy-joseph-have-season-ending-surgery|title=Tommy Joseph to have season-ending surgery|work=Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia|date=August 3, 2014|access-date=July 17, 2015}} Joseph began the 2015 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Triple–A International League, where he suffered his third concussion in May 2015. Due to the concussions, the Phillies converted him into a first baseman.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Tommy-Joseph-moving-to-first-base-after-concussions.html|title=Tommy Joseph moving to first base after concussions|first=Matt|last=Breen|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 28, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2015}}

After posting a .347 average and a .611 slugging percentage in the first 27 games of the 2016 season, the Phillies promoted Joseph from Lehigh Valley to the major leagues on May 13, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Phillies-promote-Tommy-Joseph-from-triple-A.html|title=Phillies promote Tommy Joseph from triple A|date=May 13, 2016|work=Philly.com|access-date=May 14, 2016|first1=Matt|last1=Gelb}} He hit his first major league home run on May 17.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/2016-05-19/sports/73180430_1_tommy-joseph-pete-mackanin-marcell-ozuna|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160818124013/http://articles.philly.com/2016-05-19/sports/73180430_1_tommy-joseph-pete-mackanin-marcell-ozuna|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 18, 2016|title=Joseph hits first homer as Phillies beat Marlins|last=Gelb|first=Matt|date=May 19, 2016|work=Philly.com|access-date=June 2, 2016}} On June 1, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin announced his plans to give Joseph extended playing time at first base and keep the slumping veteran Ryan Howard on the bench.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/15885312/phillies-start-tommy-joseph-place-slumping-ryan-howard-3-4-days|title=Phillies to start Tommy Joseph in place of Ryan Howard for 3-4 days|last=Stark|first=Jayson|date=June 2, 2016|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 2, 2016}} Joseph officially supplanted Howard as the everyday first baseman on June 10 and punctuated the move by hitting his sixth and seventh home runs of the season that day, with Mackanin calling Joseph "the real deal".{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/tommy-joseph-supplants-ryan-howard-at-first-c183378666 |title=Joseph supplants Howard at first base |work=MLB.com |first=Alex |last=Putterman |date=June 10, 2016}}

In 2017, Joseph batted .240 with a .289 on-base percentage.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/phillies-tommy-joseph-removed-from-roster-jake-arrieta-20180312.html |title=Phillies make room for Jake Arrieta by removing Tommy Joseph from roster |publisher=Philly |date= |access-date=March 19, 2018}} After the 2017 season, the Phillies acquired Carlos Santana to play first base.{{cite web|url=http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20171220/SPORTS/171229953 |title=Who's on first? Santana signing leaves Phillies' Joseph as odd man out |publisher=Delcotimes.com |date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=March 19, 2018}}

On March 12, 2018, Joseph was designated for assignment.

=Texas Rangers=

On March 19, 2018, the Texas Rangers claimed Joseph off waivers.{{cite web|author=The Associated Press |url=http://www.dailyjournal.net/2018/03/19/bba-rangers-joseph/ |title=Rangers claim 1B Tommy Joseph on waivers from Phillies |publisher=Dailyjournal.net |date= |access-date=March 19, 2018}} He was designated for assignment following the promotion of Kevin Jepsen on March 29.{{Cite web|title=Rangers Designate Tommy Joseph, Select Kevin Jepsen|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/rangers-designate-tommy-joseph-select-kevin-jepsen.html|access-date=December 28, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} Joseph cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Double–A Frisco RoughRiders on April 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/04/rangers-select-contract-of-bartolo-colon-tommy-joseph-clears-waivers.html|title=Rangers Select Contract of Bartolo Colon; Tommy Joseph Clears Waivers|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=April 2, 2018}} In 84 games for Round Rock, he batted .284/.353/.549 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI. Joseph declared free agency on October 2.

=LG Twins=

On November 28, 2018, Joseph signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the LG Twins of the KBO League.{{cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181128000207|title=LG Twins acquire ex-MLB 1B Joseph|publisher=The Korea Herald |date=November 28, 2018 |access-date=December 21, 2018}}

Joseph was waived by the Twins on July 9, 2019.

=Boston Red Sox=

On August 5, 2019, Joseph signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox,{{cite web |url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802204435/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/08 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2019 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |date=August 2019 |access-date=August 17, 2019}} and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/player/tommy-joseph-571830 |title=Tommy Joseph Stats, Highlights, Bio |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=August 17, 2019}} In 15 games split between the GCL Red Sox and Double–A Portland Sea Dogs, he slashed .263/.307/.386 with one home run and seven RBI.

Joseph did not play in a game for the organization in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=August 22, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He became a minor league free agent on November 2, 2020.{{cite news |url=https://bloggingtheredsox.com/2020/11/02/former-red-sox-utilityman-tzu-wei-lin-is-now-a-minor-league-free-agent/ |title=Former Red Sox utilityman Tzu-Wei Lin is now a minor-league free agent |first=Brendan |last=Campbell |website=bloggingtheredsox.com |date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=November 3, 2020}}

=Team Texas=

In July 2020, Joseph signed to play for Team Texas of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season.

Coaching career

=New York Mets=

On March 8, 2021, Joseph was announced as the hitting coach for the St. Lucie Mets, the Low-A affiliate of the New York Mets.

On January 6, 2022, Joseph was announced as the hitting coach for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets.{{cite press release |author= |title= Reid Brignac Named St. Lucie Mets Manager Jerome Williams, Tommy Joseph and Jay Pecci round out coaching staff|url=https://www.milb.com/st-lucie/news/reid-brignac-named-st-lucie-mets-manager|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=March 11, 2021|date=March 8, 2021}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On March 8, 2023, Joseph was hired as the hitting coach for the Eugene Emeralds, the High-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web|title=SF Giants bring back a couple off familiar faces as minor league coaches|url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/posts/sf-giants-bring-back-a-couple-of-familiar-faces-as-minor-league-coaches-01gtzpb1hh38/amp|access-date=2023-04-17|website=aroundthefoghorn.com|language=en}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On December 7, 2023 Joseph was hired as the Seattle Mariners' assistant hitting coach for the 2024 season.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C0kHkc9P8VS/?igshid=ZWI2YzEzYmMxYg==%7D%7D |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.instagram.com}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On November 5, 2024, the Baltimore Orioles hired Joseph away from the Mariners organization to serve as their assistant hitting coach alongside primary hitting coach Cody Asche.{{Cite web|title=Orioles To Name Cody Asche Hitting Coach|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/orioles-to-name-cody-asche-hitting-coach.html|access-date=November 9, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}