# Josh Lester

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{{short description|American baseball player (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name        = Josh Lester
|image       = Josh Lester (cropped).jpg
|caption     = Lester with the [Toledo Mud Hens](/source/Toledo_Mud_Hens) in 2022
|team        = Sultanes de Monterrey
|number      = 58
|position    = [Utility infielder](/source/Utility_infielder)
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1994|07|17}}
|birth_place = [Columbus, Georgia](/source/Columbus%2C_Georgia), U.S.
|bats        = Left
|throws      = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate   = September 5
|debutyear   = 2022
|debutteam   = Detroit Tigers 
|statleague  = MLB
|statyear    = 2023 season
|stat1label  = [Batting average](/source/Batting_average_(baseball)) 
|stat1value  = .148
|stat2label  = [Home run](/source/Home_run)s
|stat2value  = 0
|stat3label  = [Runs batted in](/source/Run_batted_in)
|stat3value  = 4
|teams       =
* [Detroit Tigers](/source/Detroit_Tigers) ({{mlby|2022}})
* [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles) ({{mlby|2023}})
}}
'''Joshua Benjamin Lester''' (born July 17, 1994) is an American professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [utility infielder](/source/utility_infielder) for the [Sultanes de Monterrey](/source/Sultanes_de_Monterrey) of the [Mexican League](/source/Mexican_Baseball_League). He has previously played in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) for the [Detroit Tigers](/source/Detroit_Tigers) and [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles).

==Amateur career==
A native of [Columbus, Georgia](/source/Columbus%2C_Georgia), Lester was part of the Columbus team that won the [2006 Little League World Series](/source/2006_Little_League_World_Series).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-05 |title=Detroit Tigers call up Columbus native & Little League World Series Champion |url=https://www.wrbl.com/sports/detroit-tigers-call-up-columbus-native-little-league-world-series-champion/ |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=WRBL |language=en-US}}</ref> After the win he was interviewed by [ESPN](/source/ESPN)'s [Erin Andrews](/source/Erin_Andrews) and was [in tears](/source/Crying).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holleran |first=Andrew |title=Watch: Erin Andrews' Old Little League Interview Goes Viral |url=https://thespun.com/more/top-stories/watch-erin-andrews-old-little-league-interview-goes-viral |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=The Spun: What's Trending In The Sports World Today |date=September 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Lester attended [Columbus High School](/source/Columbus_High_School_(Columbus%2C_Georgia)) and the [University of Missouri](/source/University_of_Missouri), where he played [college baseball](/source/college_baseball) for the [Missouri Tigers](/source/Missouri_Tigers_baseball). In 2014, he played [collegiate summer baseball](/source/collegiate_summer_baseball) with the [Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox](/source/Yarmouth%E2%80%93Dennis_Red_Sox) of the [Cape Cod Baseball League](/source/Cape_Cod_Baseball_League).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=618776&seasonid=26713 |title=#17 Josh Lester - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=September 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===Detroit Tigers===
The [Detroit Tigers](/source/Detroit_Tigers) selected Lester in the 13th round, with the 400th overall selection, of the [2015 Major League Baseball draft](/source/2015_Major_League_Baseball_draft), and he signed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tigers sign 13th-round pick, Missouri third baseman Josh Lester|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2015/06/15/tigers-sign-13th-round-pick-missouri-third-baseman-josh-lester/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=theoaklandpress.com|date=15 June 2015 |language=en}}</ref> After signing, he played for the rookie–level [Gulf Coast League Tigers](/source/Gulf_Coast_League_Tigers), Low–A [Connecticut Tigers](/source/Connecticut_Tigers) and the Single–A [West Michigan Whitecaps](/source/West_Michigan_Whitecaps), hitting .224 across 49 total games. In 2016, Lester split the year between Connecticut and West Michigan, playing in 79 games and slashing .262/.328/.369 with 2 home runs and 28 RBI.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Josh Lester - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/josh-lester/17737/stats?position=1B/DH|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, Lester played for West Michigan and the High–A [Lakeland Flying Tigers](/source/Lakeland_Flying_Tigers). He played in a total of 110 games, batting .272/.306/.439 with 13 home runs and 66 RBI.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Josh Lester Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/josh-lester-623507|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}}</ref> Lester spent the 2018 season with the Double–A [Erie SeaWolves](/source/Erie_SeaWolves), playing in 127 contests and hitting .259/.346/.455 with career–highs in home runs (21) and RBI (75).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Josh Lester Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/96013/josh-lester/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Lester played in 106 games for Double–A Erie, hitting .223/.290/.414 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. He was promoted to the Triple–A [Toledo Mud Hens](/source/Toledo_Mud_Hens) late in the year, and hit .216 with 7 home runs and 13 RBI in 18 games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Erie SeaWolves' Josh Lester on track for college degree as big league dream continues|url=https://www.goerie.com/story/sports/mlb/seawolves/2021/07/16/milb-northeast-league-erie-seawolves-play-josh-lester-detroit-tigers-missouri-baseball/7885609002/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=goerie.com|language=en}}</ref>

Lester did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic).<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref> He returned to action in 2021, and split the year between Double–A Erie and Triple–A Toledo. In 109 games, he accumulated a .263/.324/.587 batting line with 32 home runs and 78 RBI.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Detroit Tigers: Josh Lester needs a chance at the MLB|url=https://detroitjockcity.com/2022/02/08/detroit-tigers-josh-lester-chance-mlb/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=detroitjockcity.com|date=8 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Lester returned to Toledo for the 2022 season, playing in 145 games and hitting .246/.311/.469 with 29 home runs and a career–high 99 RBI.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tigers to call up first baseman Josh Lester|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2022/9/3/23336214/detroit-tigers-miguel-cabrera-josh-lester|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=blessyouboys.com|date=3 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

On September 4, 2022, Lester was selected to the [40-man roster](/source/40-man_roster) and promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to [Miguel Cabrera](/source/Miguel_Cabrera).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera headed to IL; Josh Lester promoted from Triple-A Toledo |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2022/09/04/detroit-tigers-miguel-cabrera-to-il-josh-lester-28-is-replacement/65472236007/ |access-date=2022-09-04 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> He made his Major League debut the next day. In two games for Detroit, Lester went 0–for–5 with 3 strikeouts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tigers' Josh Lester: Sent down Thursday|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-josh-lester-sent-down-thursday/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=8 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A on November 9, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tigers' Josh Lester: Cast off 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-josh-lester-cast-off-40-man-roster/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|date=9 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He elected minor–league free agency following the next day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=June 23, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=13 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

===Baltimore Orioles===
On December 6, 2022, Lester signed a minor league contract with the [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles) organization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orioles agree to terms on minor league contract with Josh Lester |url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/orioles-agree-to-terms-on-minor-league-contract-with-josh-lester |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=MASNsports.com - Orioles and Nationals on MASNsports.com |date=6 December 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> He was assigned to the Triple-A [Norfolk Tides](/source/Norfolk_Tides) to begin the 2023 season, where he played in 52 games and hit .282/.339/.549 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI. On June 3, 2023, Lester had his contract selected to the major league roster after [Danny Coulombe](/source/Danny_Coulombe) was placed on the bereavement list.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Orioles Select Josh Lester|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/orioles-select-josh-lester.html|access-date=2023-06-03|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=3 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref> On June 4, Lester recorded his first career hit, a two–run single off of [San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants) starter [Anthony DeSclafani](/source/Anthony_DeSclafani).<ref>{{Cite web|title='What a cool moment': Lester's 1st MLB hit a big one for O's|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-lester-gets-1st-major-league-hit-in-orioles-big-inning|access-date=2023-06-04|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref> In 11 games for Baltimore, he batted .182/.217/.182 with no home runs and 4 RBI. On July 19, Lester was [designated for assignment](/source/designated_for_assignment) by the Orioles following the acquisition of [Shintaro Fujinami](/source/Shintaro_Fujinami).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Orioles' Josh Lester: Designated for assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-josh-lester-designated-for-assignment/|access-date=July 19, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Norfolk on July 26.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Orioles' Josh Lester: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-josh-lester-outrighted-to-triple-a/|access-date=July 26, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=26 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> On October 4, Lester elected free agency.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Josh Lester: Elects to become free agent|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/josh-lester-elects-to-become-free-agent/|access-date=October 4, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=4 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

===Kansas City Royals===
On February 18, 2024, Lester signed a minor league contract with [Kansas City Royals](/source/Kansas_City_Royals).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/royals-sign-infielder-josh-lester-to-minor-league-deal/ar-BB1itwWs|work=[SB Nation](/source/SB_Nation)|title=Lester signed a minor league contract}}</ref> In 116 appearances split between the Double–A [Northwest Arkansas Naturals](/source/Northwest_Arkansas_Naturals) and Triple–A [Omaha Storm Chasers](/source/Omaha_Storm_Chasers), he batted a combined .259/.327/.450 with 18 home runs and 71 RBI. Lester elected free agency following the season on November 4.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|work=Baseball America|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|first=Matt|last=Eddy}}</ref>

===Sultanes de Monterrey===
On April 15, 2025, Lester signed with the [Sultanes de Monterrey](/source/Sultanes_de_Monterrey) of the [Mexican League](/source/Mexican_Baseball_League).<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 15 de abril de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-15-de-abril-de-2025|access-date=May 13, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref> In 81 games he hit .318/.416/.587 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|mlb=623507|espn=40837|br=l/lestejo02|fangraphs=17737|brm=lester000jos|retro=L/Plestj002}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Josh}}
Category:1994 births
Category:Living people
Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Category:Baltimore Orioles players
Category:Baseball players from Columbus, Georgia
Category:Connecticut Tigers players
Category:Detroit Tigers players
Category:Erie SeaWolves players
Category:Gulf Coast Tigers players
Category:Lakeland Flying Tigers players
Category:Major League Baseball infielders
Category:Missouri Tigers baseball players
Category:Norfolk Tides players
Category:Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Category:Omaha Storm Chasers players
Category:Sultanes de Monterrey players
Category:Toledo Mud Hens players
Category:West Michigan Whitecaps players
Category:Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Josh Lester](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Lester) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Lester?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.