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SF Giants: Former Catching Prospect Transitions to Coaching

By Jeff Young |
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 05: Tommy Joseph #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies make some contact at the plate during the Spring Training game against the Minnesota Twins at Spectrum Field on March 05, 2018 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 05: Tommy Joseph #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies make some contact at the plate during the Spring Training game against the Minnesota Twins at Spectrum Field on March 05, 2018 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Tommy Joseph #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies drives in Andrew Knapp during the first inning against the University of Tampa during the Spring Training at Spectrum Field on February 22, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) – SF Giants
CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Tommy Joseph #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies drives in Andrew Knapp during the first inning against the University of Tampa during the Spring Training at Spectrum Field on February 22, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) – SF Giants /

A former SF Giants catching prospect has transitioned from a playing career into a coaching role.

The New York Mets announced the coaching staff at each minor-league affiliate on Wednesday. Included on that list was former SF Giants catching prospect Tommy Joseph.

Former SF Giants catching prospect transitions to coaching

Joseph is set to become the hitting coach for the Mets’ Low-A affiliate. He will be joined by another SF Giants alum in Jerome Williams, who is the pitching coach for the St. Lucie Mets.

The Giants originally drafted Joseph in the second round of the 2009 draft out of Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Interestingly, Joseph had been a high school teammate of Tim Alderson, whom San Francisco drafted in the 2007 draft out of the same high school.

As a prospect, Joseph demonstrated intriguing power as he swatted 22 home runs with the San Jose Giants during his age-19 season. However, there were questions about his hit tool as well as his long-term position in the field.

Nevertheless, the Giants continued to trot him out as a catcher. Though, his time with the Giants organization would come to an end by 2012. San Francisco swung a trade to acquire Hunter Pence from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Joseph, Nate Schierholtz, and Seth Rosin.

Schierholtz was seen as a quality player, but Joseph was the centerpiece in that deal. The Phillies believed they were getting a catcher of the future, but the wear-and-tear of the position took its toll on Joseph.

The catching prospect sustained five concussions before moving to first base permanently. It took a long time, but Joseph finally debuted with the Phillies in 2016. In two seasons with Philadelphia, the right-handed bat slugged 43 home runs and 116 RBI, but this came with a 97 OPS+.

His offensive production was not enough to stick at first base and the Phillies placed him on waivers in 2018. He made stops with the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox before transitioning into coaching.

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Despite being just 29-years-old, it appears that Joseph is hanging up his cleats. Though no official word was announced, it is possible that he could continue playing down the road. For example, Scott Kazmir is pursuing that road with the Giants despite not pitching in a major-league game in four seasons. The good news is that Joseph is remaining in the game as he hopes to help the next wave of young baseball prospects.

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