Joe Thurston will embark on another stint in the Boston Red Sox organization.
The Red Sox signed Thurston to a minor league contract this week, according to Baseball America’s official minor league transactions page. The 35-year-old utility player appeared in four major league games with Boston in 2008.
Thurston, who last appeared in the majors with the Florida Marlins in 2011, has spent the bulk of the last three seasons in the Atlantic and Mexican leagues and his winters in the Venezuelan League. He has reached the majors with five different organizations over parts of seven seasons since being drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999.
Thurston’s most significant big league contributions came with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009, when he compiled 307 plate appearances over 124 games. Thurston hit .225 with a homer and 25 RBIs that year.
Thurston appeared in 126 games with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2008, the season in which he reached the major league level with Boston. He hit .316 with 11 homers and 64 RBIs for the PawSox.
Thurston really represents little more than organizational spring training depth at this point in his professional career, but the veteran journeyman can play both the infield and the outfield.
The Red Sox also re-signed minor league utility man Justin Henry this week.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@elabonado
