Tommy Joseph

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #31 prospect in 2015
  Joseph ranked as the Giants' No. 2 prospect heading into the 2012 season, and he was the centerpiece of the prospect package that San Francisco used to pry Hunter Pence from the Phillies later that year. Joseph followed a tough 2013 season (36 games) with an even tougher 2014 (27 games). He has sustained three concussions behind the plate, but his 2014 season was cut short by surgery on his left wrist to repair damage sustained during a play at the play on May 9. The Phillies have had internal discussions as to whether Joseph would be better served as a first baseman. No matter the position, he needs to get back on the field and make up for lost developmental time. When he does get back, he needs to work on blocking, receiving and game-calling to polish himself as a catcher. In the short time he was at Double-A Reading, he did hit five homers and slug .551, and he has the highest upside of any catcher in the system. Joseph should be healed in time for spring training and will probably wind up back at Reading in 2015, looking for a season of health and continuity.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #21 prospect in 2014
  A pair of concussions laid waste to Joseph's 2013 season and put his future as a catcher, if not in baseball, in question. He had a strong spring, making a positive impression in big league camp, and started the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before he took a foul ball off the mask on May 4 that sidelined him the rest of the month with a concussion. Joseph tried to come back in June with high Class A Clearwater and struggled badly, and while he moved up to Double-A Reading, he never shook the concussion symptoms. He didn't play in the regular season after July 11 and was shut down in early August. Joseph caught for much of November in the Dominican League but didn't hit anywhere in 2013, posting a .179/.229/.285 line with three home runs, then hitting .192 in winter ball. At his best, Joseph, the centerpiece of the Hunter Pence trade with the Giants in 2012, is a thick, offense-first catcher with plus raw power to all fields. He has a strong arm behind the plate, as evinced by his 40 percent caught stealing rate two seasons ago. He still needs to polish the finer points of catching, namely receiving and blocking, obviously missing out on development time due to his injury. The first concern for Joseph is his health, which will determine his 2014 assignment and position.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #3 prospect in 2013
  A power-hitting Arizona prep product who moved behind the plate full-time as a senior, Joseph signed for $712,500 as a Giants second-round pick in 2009. He was the primary piece in the Hunter Pence deal, coming to the Phillies along with Nate Schierholtz and minor league righthander Seth Rosin last July. With Double-A Eastern League affiliate Richmond playing Reading, Joseph literally switched dugouts the night of the trade. Joseph is thick, strong and durable, especially in his lower half. His direct swing produces natural backspin, yielding plus raw power to all fields, and he's at his best when he's hitting the ball gap to gap. He projects as an average hitter, though he runs into trouble when his bat wraps and barrels the ball late. There were questions about Joseph's ability to remain behind the plate early in his pro career, but the Phillies believe in him. He has soft hands and plus arm strength, and he threw out 40 percent of basestealers in 2012. He's still working on positioning and blocking balls in the dirt. He's a below-average runner but has some instincts on the bases. Joseph is Philadelphia's backstop of the future, and Carlos Ruiz is signed through only 2013. Joseph should spend the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley splitting time with Sebastian Valle, who along with Cameron Rupp gives the system strong catching depth.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #2 prospect in 2012
  Joseph was one of the best power-hitting prospects in the 2009 draft and signed for an over-slot $712,500 in the second round. After a lackluster 2010 pro debut, Joseph did better offensively after jumping to high Class A in 2011. More impressively, he made major defensive improvements, earning San Jose's defensive player of the year award and leading the California League by throwing out 37 percent of basestealers. Joseph's short, direct swing generates plenty of backspin and gives him plus power to all fields. He needs to improve his approach and plate discipline in order to cut down on his strikeouts and hit for a higher average. His power will play at first base, where he has seen time, but Joseph now looks like he'll be able to stay at catcher after making huge strides blocking balls and cleaning up his footwork. He has plus arm strength and accuracy but just an average release. Giants coaches say his acumen and game-calling skills might be second only to Buster Posey in the organization. Joseph is a below-average runner but his lack of speed is easier to overlook if he remains behind the plate. If San Francisco decides to move Posey to a less grueling position, Joseph has the tools to take over behind the plate. If not, he can fit in the lineup at first base. He'll begin 2012 in Double-A.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #10 prospect in 2011
  Joseph was one of the best power-hitting high school prospects in the 2009 draft and boosted his value by moving behind the plate as a senior. He attended a literal school of hard knocks in his pro debut last year, sustaining a concussion in late May and taking a beating from a barrage of foul tips behind the plate. The Giants don't put much stock in his disappointing numbers because they knew he was nicked up and one of the youngest players in the low Class A South Atlantic League. Joseph arrived straight from high school with a short, direct swing that should lead to plenty of hard contact in time. He generates consistent backspin in batting practice and competes well against quality fastballs. He lacks a consistent approach, though, and his strikeout numbers were indicative of that. Joseph's power is his only plus tool. He has a stocky build, poor speed and defensive limitations. He has a lot of work to do as a catcher after allowing 19 passed balls and 52 steals in 65 games last year. He does have solid arm strength. Joseph started 10 games at first base last year and has the power to play there. That seems like an automatic move with Buster Posey in San Francisco, but the Giants plan to continue developing Joseph as a catcher this year in high Class A.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #6 prospect in 2010
  Joseph came out of the same Horizon High (Scottsdale, Ariz.) program that produced Angels third baseman Brandon Wood and 2007 Giants first-round pick Tim Alderson, who was traded to the Pirates in the Freddy Sanchez deal last July. Originally a first baseman, Joseph moved behind the plate his senior year and was one of the best power-hitting prep prospects in the 2009 draft. Delighted to get him in the second round, San Francisco signed him for $712,500. Joseph matches muscle with a functional swing. He loads easily, his hands snap through the hitting zone, he's direct to the ball and he keeps his head down the barrel. It's no wonder he consistently generates backspin. He peppered the upper deck at Tropicana Field with 400-foot shots in a high school home run derby. He has above-average arm strength and accuracy. His defensive skills are raw, and Joseph needs to work on his feet and flexibility behind the plate. First base is always an option, especially with Buster Posey ahead of him. Joseph's bat would play there just fine. He's a well-below-average runner. Nobody inspired more buzz among Giants coaches in instructional league than Joseph, who put on a tape-measure show in Arizona. His adjustment to wood bats shouldn't be significant, and because he stays back so well, he should be able to handle breaking pitches. He's likely to see a full season in low Class A in 2010.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #10 prospect in 2012
  The Giants originally signed the top pitching and top catching prospect to play in the EL this season, taking Wheeler in the first round of the 2009 draft and Joseph in the second. They dealt both for veteran outfielders, sending Joseph to the Phillies in July as part of a package for Hunter Pence. Joseph drives the ball to all fields with plus power and hit some of the longest homers in the league this season. His contact rate took a tumble this season as he worked deeper counts and drew more walks, but scouts expect he'll be a solid hitter for average with his quick, direct stroke. He batted .301/.360/.466 versus EL lefties but also struck out in a quarter of his 114 plate appearances against them.
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  Ranked California League #11 prospect in 2011
  In an injury-plagued pro debut last year in low Class A, Joseph batted .236 and struggled defensively in just his second season behind the plate. He showed marked improvement in both areas this year, especially on defense. Joseph topped Cal League catchers in throwing out basestealers (37 percent) and fielding percentage (.992). He has a strong arm and has worked diligently to improve his footwork and blocking skills. His receiving also has gotten better but still needs some cleaning up. With a short, compact swing and strong hands, Joseph generates plus power and has enough to profile as a regular at first base, where he has gotten some playing time. He still needs to develop a more consistent approach to help avoid extended slumps. He's doesn't run well but it doesn't matter at the positions he plays. "Aside from all of the physical tools he has, this kid competes and wants to win, and as a catcher there is nothing more important than that," San Jose manager Andy Skeels said. "He really had a big breakout year."

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: A power-hitting Arizona prep product who moved behind the plate full-time as a senior, Joseph signed for $712,500 as a Giants second-round pick in 2009. He was the primary piece in the Hunter Pence deal, coming to the Phillies along with Nate Schierholtz and minor league righthander Seth Rosin last July. With Double-A Eastern League affiliate Richmond playing Reading, Joseph literally switched dugouts the night of the trade. Scouting Report: Joseph is thick, strong and durable, especially in his lower half. His direct swing produces natural backspin, yielding plus raw power to all fields, and he's at his best when he's hitting the ball gap to gap. He projects as an average hitter, though he runs into trouble when his bat wraps and barrels the ball late. There were questions about Joseph's ability to remain behind the plate early in his pro career, but the Phillies believe in him. He has soft hands and plus arm strength, and he threw out 40 percent of basestealers in 2012. He's still working on positioning and blocking balls in the dirt. He's a below-average runner but has some instincts on the bases. The Future: Joseph is Philadelphia's backstop of the future, and Carlos Ruiz is signed through only 2013. Joseph should spend the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley splitting time with Sebastian Valle, who along with Cameron Rupp gives the system strong upper-level catching depth.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Joseph was one of the best power-hitting prospects in the 2009 draft and signed for an over-slot $712,500 in the second round. After a lackluster 2010 pro debut, Joseph did better offensively after jumping to high Class A in 2011. More impressively, he made major defensive improvements, leading the California League by throwing out 37 percent of basestealers. Scouting Report: Joseph's short, direct swing generates plenty of backspin and gives him plus power to all fields. He still needs to improve his approach and plate discipline in order to cut down on his strikeouts and hit for a higher average. His power will play at first base, where he has seen time, but Joseph now looks like he'll be able to stay at catcher after making huge strides blocking balls and cleaning up his footwork. He has plus arm strength and accuracy but just an average release. Giants coaches say his acumen and game-calling skills might be second only to Buster Posey in the organization. Joseph is a below-average runner but his lack of speed is easier to overlook if he remains behind the plate. The Future: If San Francisco decides to move Posey to a less grueling position, Joseph has the tools to take over behind the plate. If not, he can fit in the lineup at first base. He'll begin 2012 in Double-A.