Charley Thurber’s road through minor league baseball has been a winding one.
It’s taken him to six teams in the last two seasons. It’s also taken him from the outfield to the mound and back.
Now, Thurber is hoping he’s found a place to stay with the ThunderBolts — at least long enough to get back to affiliated ball.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Thurber said. “You can’t complain, because I’m playing the game I love and chasing my dream and everything happens for a reason. I’m in a great clubhouse now. I trust the process.
“I can’t lie, though. It’s definitely been hectic. It’s been a long ride.”
Since being released by the New York Mets in 2014, the 26-year-old Thurber has had stints with five independent teams and also spent time last season at Class AA New Britain in the Colorado Rockies organization.
He began this season with York in the Atlantic League, was released and signed with Lincoln in the American Association in June.
On July 2, he was traded by Lincoln to the T-Bolts for a player to be named later.
“I’m psyched to be here,” he said. “It’s a great group of guys and we’re close to getting something rolling and hopefully we can get that playoff spot. I just feel like I’m in the right spot here.”
Thurber has hit the ball hard in 14 games with the T-Bolts, but hasn’t had much to show for it. He entered Sunday with a .152 average.
Still, he’s happy with where his swing’s at. He hit his first home run of the season Sunday.
“We all battle with the results and it’s tough because I feel like I’ve hit a lot of balls that could have fallen into gaps or could have left the park,” Thurber said. “I just have to keep hitting the ball hard, and I believe they’ll start to fall in. It’ll all even out at some point.”
Despite the numbers, Thurber has made a good impression on T-Bolts manager Ron Biga, who continues to put him in the lineup regularly.
“He’s hit a lot of balls that could have gone out of the park and didn’t,” Biga said. “He’s crushed some balls and not gotten the results. But he can drive the ball to all fields, he’s very good defensively and we’re glad to have him.”
A native of Elmira, N.Y., Thurber was drafted by the Mets in the 39th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.
“I grew up watching the Mets,” Thurber said. “Mike Piazza is getting inducted into the Hall of Fame (Sunday) and I still remember the home run he hit after 9/11. I have a lot of memories of watching the Mets, so it was really cool to get picked by them.”
After three years in the organization, the Mets chose to convert Thurber to a pitcher in 2014. He spent most of that season in extended spring training, trying it out, but ultimately decided he wanted to return to being a position player.
That decision began his long road to Crestwood.
“I’ve learned so much and I still learn every day,” he said. “The biggest thing for me is just staying true to yourself, keeping the faith and showing up every day and being diligent with your work.”
Steve Millar is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.
