The Bees have signed former Mets catcher Josh Thole. An eight-year MLB

veteran, Thole also played with the Blue Jays.

NEW BRITAIN –The New Britain Bees have announced the signing of catcher Josh Thole. This will be Thole’s 13th season of professional baseball, and his maiden voyage in the Atlantic League. He The last played in 2016 with the Toronto Blue Jays.





The 31-year-old backstop was selected in the 13th round of the 2005 amateur draft by the New York Mets. He spent five years in the Mets’ system before making his MLB debut with the Mets in 2009.





Thole spent four years in New York, where he was a starter in 2011 and 2012. The Mets traded Thole to Toronto after the 2012 season, along with knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey, who had just won the Cy Young Award, for Noah Syndergaard and Travis D'Arnaud. Thole spent the next four campaigns with the Jays. Overall, in 478 career Major League games spanning eight seasons, Thole has a .242 batting average with 65 extra base hits, 111 RBI, and 99 runs scored. In the minors, he has a .286 average along with 17 homers, 106 doubles, 220 runs scored and 227 RBIs. His minor league OBP is .371.





“Josh will bring an extensive amount of big league experience to our club and we’re glad to have him on board,” Bees general manager Brad Smith said. “He’s a professional hitter and will work great with our veteran pitching staff.”





All-Star Voting Underway





Voting is currently underway for the 2018 Atlantic League All-Star Game, presented by Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center. Fans can cast their ballots online until Sat., June 30, by clicking HERE . Those wishing to vote may do so as often as they wish to support their favorite player or players to make the rosters that will represent the Liberty and Freedom Divisions at the All-Star Game on Wed., July 11. Fan voting will be used as a percentage towards All-Star selection, along with voting from Atlantic League officials and media.





The Atlantic League’s 21st Annual All-Star Game will be held at Bethpage Ballpark, the home of the Long Island Ducks, on Wed., July 11, at 6:35 p.m.





“I have been greatly impressed by the talent showcased across all eight member clubs thus far in 2018,” Atlantic League president Rick White said . “We are excited to welcome the All-Star Game back to Long Island this year and look forward to watching the league’s best players, as voted, in part, by our great fans, on the same field.”





The midsummer classic will be preceded by the Digmi Home Run Derby, showcasing several of the top power hitters in the league this year. Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to the biggest Fireworks Spectacular of the season.





Tickets for the 2018 Atlantic League All-Star Game, presented by Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, are on sale now! Fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, clicking HERE or downloading the Ducks mobile app. More information regarding the All-Star Game and its surrounding events will be announced as the game date approaches.





Widely recognized as the top independent minor league baseball circuit in the country, more than 900 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the Atlantic League. In addition, over 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games since the circuit’s inception in 1998. For more information, please visit http://www.atlanticleague.com/ .