Josh Thole

From The Met Wiki

Age: 28 (born October 28, 1986)

Position: Catcher

Bats: Left Throws: Right

Number: 30

Acquired: Minor league draft

Contract: Major league minimum

Josh Thole is the Mets' big hope behind the plate. Thole is a left-handed contact hitter, and one of the few guys in baseball who usually chokes up. The biggest question going into 2010 was about his catching, but he's been picking up the position pretty well. He struggled at the plate in Buffalo this year, but he's hit well in the big leagues.

Thole recorded his first major league hit in his first at bat, on September 3, 2009.

On June 24, 2010, Barajas had a stiff back and was put on the bench. But he wasn't placed on the DL as the Mets called up Thole and placed Raul Valdes to the Minors. Thole's hot start, Barajas and Blanco's struggles, and Thole's success catching knuckler R.A. Dickey kept Thole on the club even after the two struggling veterans overcame their injuries (but not their struggles at the plate).

On June 25, 2010, Thole made his 2010 Mets day view in a game against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field in Game 1.

On July 20, 2010, Thole hit his first major league homerun.