Joe Thurston

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #24 prospect in 2004
  Thurston headed into last spring with little competition for the Dodgers' second-base job opened by the trade of Mark Grudzielanek. But after leading the minors in hits and total bases in 2002, Thurston hit a soft .241 and played lackluster defense in big league camp. The rookie-of-the-year candidate got just 10 big league at-bats all season and wasn't nearly as productive in his second tour of the Pacific Coast League. While there are still some scouts who view him as an everyday second baseman, he might be better suited for a utility role in the Mark McLemore mold. Thurston's makeup is off the charts and his overachieving ways made him an organization favorite long ago. He was Los Angeles' minor league player of the year in 2001 and 2002. The question is whether his tools will measure up in the big leagues. Thurston dives into the plate and didn't drive the ball well last season. He might encounter the same problem against power stuff in the majors. He's aggressive and draws few walks, but he has a knack for putting the bat on the ball. Thurston added some weight before 2003 and it seemed to affect his agility in the field and on the bases. He's an average runner yet was thrown out 12 times in 13 attempts after averaging 21 steals the previous two years. He lacks soft hands but gets the job done defensively. Even after Alex Cora's injury, the Dodgers are more likely to look outside the organization than to hand the position to Thurston.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #5 prospect in 2003
  Thurston has earned a reputation as a winner by winning championships in junior college and the minors. In 2002, he won his second organization minor league player of the year award in three seasons and led Triple-A Las Vegas to the best record in the Pacific Coast League, topped the minors in hits and total bases (297) and all Dodgers farmhands in runs, doubles and triples. "Joey Ballgame" earned his nickname for his instincts and passion, which is evident in the way he carries himself. He doesn't employ classic swing mechanics as he dives into the plate and looks out of sync, but he has outstanding bat control and has developed more gap power as he has matured. He's the best baserunner in the system and has solid-average speed. Because he lacks soft hands, Thurston moved from shortstop to second base in 2001 with promising results. He rarely draws walks, which means he'll have to hit for a high average to have a good on-base percentage. He doesn't always make it look easy and his tools aren't overwhelming, leading some PCL scouts to project him as a utilityman instead of a regular. One of the Dodgers' most sought-after players in trades, Thurston is penciled in as their everyday second baseman following the offseason trade of Mark Grudzielanek. Thurston is a prime rookie of the year candidate.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #5 prospect in 2002
  Los Angeles' minor league player of the year in 2000, Thurston experienced adversity last season but worked his way through it. He struggled at the plate in Double-A before adapting in the second half. Thurston capped his year by finishing third in the Arizona Fall League batting race at .369. He succeeds with his tremendous heart, along with his good speed and quickness. He takes the extra base and possesses enough speed to steal 25 bases annually in the major leagues. He does the little things well with the bat, such as sacrificing, moving guys over and hitting to the opposite field. Defensively, he has excellent range at second base. Thurston likes to jump on the first pitch in an at-bat, but he could stand some more patience and work the count to give him more advantages. Moved from shortstop to second base last year, he's just an adequate defender because his hands aren't particularly soft. Known as Joey Ballgame, Thurston was added to the 40-man roster in November. He'll move up to Triple-A in 2002.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #9 prospect in 2001
  Thurston was the Dodgers' minor league player of the year in 2000, his first full professional season. He impressed California League managers enough last year to earn recognition as the league's most exciting player, the shortstop on the postseason all-star team and the 17th-best prospect. His game is built around his outstanding speed and quickness. He makes solid contact and uses his legs to get on base, enabling him to lead the Cal League in hits. He possesses excellent range and has a lightning-quick first step out of the box and in the field. He's a good baserunner who placed second in the organization in stolen bases last year. While some scouts like Thurston as a shortstop, his high error totals could land him at second base. His defense remains raw, though he has improved immensely with his routes to grounders. He took his game to a higher level last year by learning how to hit to the opposite field. With impeccable character, he'll move quickly to the top if he has the same type of season this year at Double-A Jacksonville that he did in 2000 at San Bernardino.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #20 prospect in 2002
  The manager-scout dichotomy with Thurston was as great as it was with Overbay. Thurston led the minors in hits and total bases (297), and topped the PCL in runs (106), yet managers raved about his intangibles the most. He plays well beyond his tools, which is why they loved him. But scouts couldn't look away from those tools. He steals bases, yet he has fringe average speed. He makes contact and produced for Las Vegas, yet he has a funky swing and rarely walks, so he may have to hit at the bottom of the order. He has a below-average arm and his hands aren't the softest at second base. While he could offer the Dodgers more than incumbent second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, the scouts see Thurston's true worth as a premium utilityman. Players like Craig Counsell, David Eckstein and Mark Ellis have overcome that tag, and Thurston has similar makeup.
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  Ranked California League #17 prospect in 2000
  Nicknamed "Joey Ballgame" at Sacramento City College by his coach, current Dodgers farm director Jerry Weinstein, Thurston played the part this season. He hit for average, made contact and stole bases. Add in his tenacious defense, and it’s easy to see why managers rated him the most exciting player in Baseball America’s midseason Best Tools survey. "He definitely plays the middle of the diamond with the best of them and has speed on top of that," San Bernardino manager Dino Ebel said. "His heart is what separates him. He's at 100 percent every single game and that's something you can't take from a guy. He's just 20, too, with tools: running, defense and his ability to make adjustments at the plate." As Thurston gets stronger, he could develop more gap power. He worked with Stampede hitting coach Jack Clark to improve his pull-hitting ability, and he’s also trying to cut down his fly balls to make more use of his speed.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Nicknamed "Joey Ballgame" at Sacramento City College by his coach, current Dodgers farm director Jerry Weinstein, Thurston played the part this season. He hit for average, made contact and stole bases. Add in his tenacious defense, and it’s easy to see why managers rated him the most exciting player in Baseball America’s midseason Best Tools survey. "He definitely plays the middle of the diamond with the best of them and has speed on top of that," San Bernardino manager Dino Ebel said. "His heart is what separates him. He's at 100 percent every single game and that's something you can't take from a guy. He's just 20, too, with tools: running, defense and his ability to make adjustments at the plate." As Thurston gets stronger, he could develop more gap power. He worked with Stampede hitting coach Jack Clark to improve his pull-hitting ability, and he’s also trying to cut down his fly balls to make more use of his speed.