Joshua Peter Tols (born 6 October 1989) is an Australian former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

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. Tols played

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at John Wood Community College and

Rockhurst University Rockhurst University is a private Jesuit university in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 as Rockhurst College, Rockhurst University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It enrolled 2,980 students in 2019. History In 1909, Fr. ...

. Undrafted, he then played three seasons of

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in the

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and

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. He has played for the Adelaide Bite and

Melbourne Aces The Melbourne Aces are a professional baseball team based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia that competed in the Australian Baseball League. Their home field is the Melbourne Ballpark in Altona. History On 20 August 2010 it was announced ...

in the

Australian Baseball League The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it s ...

, a winter league, for several years. He represented

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at the

2017 World Baseball Classic The 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, composed of 16 competing nations, held from March 6 to 22, 2017. It was the fourth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. The first-round hosts wer ...

before signing with the Phillies organization in 2018.

Early life

Tols was born in

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

, to Peter and Debbie Tols. He attended Seaton High School in Australia. Josh started playing baseball as a junior with the Woodville District Baseball Club where he continued to play while living in Adelaide.

Playing career

Amateur

John Wood Junior College (2009-2010)

Tols attended John Wood Community College in Quincy,

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in 2009 where he appeared in 13 games as a

, had a 4-3 (

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) 4.87

Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...

(ERA) record with 44.1

innings pitched In baseball, the statistic innings pitched (IP) is the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of Batter (baseball), batters and baserunners that have been put out while the pitcher is on the Baseball field#Pitcher's mou ...

in his

freshman year A freshman, fresher, first year, or colloquially frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational in ...

. He struck out 46 batters while

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21 and allowing 51

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. As a sophomore, he appeared in 21 games as a pitcher, had a 3-4, 3.09 ERA record with 71 K in IP and led the nation in strikeouts per inning. He also led the nation in saves, earning himself a place on the all conference team. In 2017 he was inducted into the college's baseball hall of fame. Over his career he was part of one of the best two year winning percentages in the college programme's history. Josh continues to be a mainstay on many all-time statistical categories, including 1st in single season saves, 2nd in career saves, 4th in single season strikeouts, 4th in career strikeouts.

Rockhurst University (2012-2014)

In 2012 Tols transferred to continue his college career at

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

. in his first year, he pitch for a record of 6-2 with a 3.36 ERA. He held opposition batters to a .247 batting average, stuck out 66 batters over 67 innings pitched, and recorded four complete games and two shutouts. He was recognised as a member of the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference team. He

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in 2013 due to a shoulder injury. In 2014, as a pitcher he recorded 4-7 (win-loss) with a 2.60 ERA and struck out 71 in IP. He led the GLVC in strike outs and was second-team All-Conference.

Trinidad Triggers

He began his pro career with the Trinidad Triggers of the

. He finished the summer at 5-0, 3.28 with 61 K in IP. He also hit for a batting average of .269 on base percentage .345 and slugging .308 from 31 plate appearances.

Kansas City T-Bones

In 2015 Tols signed with the

Kansas City T-Bones The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Kansas. Formerly known as the Kansas City T-Bones, they are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball; which, in 2020, became designated as a Majo ...

in the American Association where he went 2-0 with a 4.55 ERA with 49 strike outs over 55.1 innings pitched. In 2016 Tols returned for his final season with the T-Bones where he went 5-4 with a 4.18 ERA with 60 strike outs over 60.1 innings pitched.

Niigata Albirex

On 1 April 2017, Tols signed with the Niigata Albirex of the

Baseball Challenge League The Route Inn BCL, formerly known as the , is an independent minor baseball league in Japan. The league's abbreviated designation is "." League structure The 72-game season runs from April–October, split into two half-terms, with the divisio ...

Philadelphia Phillies

Tols signed a minor league contract with the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

on 9 February 2018. He was assigned to the

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of the

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to begin the season. Through 4 appearances, including 1 start, he had struck out 13 batters while allowing only 2 hits and posting an ERA of 0.93. He was then promoted to the Double-A

Reading Fightin Phils The Reading Fightin Phils (also called the Reading Fightins) are a Minor League Baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium. The R ...

of the Eastern League. He still primarily served as a

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and accumulated 42 strikeouts and a 3.27 ERA by the season's end. Cumulatively, his first season record stood at 2–1 with a 2.74 ERA over 42 innings with 55 strikeouts. For the 2019 campaign, Tols was promoted to the Triple-A

Lehigh Valley IronPigs The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are named in reference to pig iron, used ...

of the

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. Coming on exclusively in relief, he retired 39 batters on strikes and had a 1–1 record with a 3.84 ERA in . Tols did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the

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. On 29 April 2021, Tols was released by the Phillies organization.

Kane County Cougars

On May 3, 2021, Tols signed with the

Kane County Cougars The Kane County Cougars are a professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois, and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball (MLB). They play their home games a ...

of the

. Tols played the entire 2021 season with the Cougars, during which he recorded a 4-8 record with a 4.27 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 21 appearances. On May 4, 2022, Tols was released by the Cougars.

Australian Baseball League

Tols made his

debut in 2010 as a 20-year-old. He pitched shutout innings for his hometown Adelaide Bite in the 2010-2011 Australian Baseball League (3 H, 1 BB, 1 K). With Adelaide for the first time in four winters, Josh went 9-2 with a 2.38 ERA and 46 K in 34 IP as a reliever. He led the league in wins (two over Scott Mitchinson and Morgan Coombs) and tied for third with 22 games pitched. He was named the ABL Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year, and selected in the Australian team for the

Australian Baseball League All-Star Game The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it s ...

. In 2015-2016, he remained hot for Adelaide (4-1, Sv, 2.23, .200 opponent average). He was 4th in the ABL in ERA (between Scott Mitchinson and Edwin Carl). Josh was signed to play for the

in 2016 where he posted a 3-2 (win-loss), 2 save, 0.92 ERA season with 42 strike outs over 29.2 innings pitched. After moving to

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Josh also joined the Fitzroy Baseball Club in Division one of the Victorian Summer Baseball League. In his debut season Josh won the Harry Douglas trophy for the league's best pitcher, with an ERA of 0.20 helping Fitzroy to win the league's club championship. Returning to the Aces Josh increased his workload with 5-3, 1 save, 4.78 ERA season with 75 strike outs over 52.2 innings pitched. Tols was selected as a member of the

Australian national baseball team The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. It is ranked as the top team in Oceania, and is the Oceanian Champion, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand wi ...

at the

and signed by the

organisation. Following his signing by the Phillies Josh was restricted to a light workload in the 2017/18 ABL season pitching only 8 innings over 4 games with the Aces. He had a 1.18 ERA, with 1 win and 9 strike outs. Tols retired after the 2022–23 Australian Baseball League season in which he pitched for the

Claxton Shield The Claxton Shield was the name of the premier baseball competition in Australia held between state-based teams, as well as the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team. From the summer of 1989–90 until 2001–02, and again since 2010� ...

-winning Adelaide Giants.

International career

Tols was selected for the

at the

and 2019 WBSC Premier12.

Coaching career

On January 19, 2023, Tols was announced as the rehab pitching coach for the Florida Complex League Twins, the rookie-level affiliate of the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

References

External links

ABL.com stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tols, Josh 1989 births Living people Adelaide Bite players Australian expatriate baseball players in Japan Australian expatriate baseball players in the United States Baseball pitchers Clearwater Threshers players John Wood Trail Blazers baseball players Kansas City T-Bones players Las Vegas Train Robbers players Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Melbourne Aces players Reading Fightin Phils players Rockhurst Hawks baseball players Baseball players from Adelaide Tigres de Aragua players Australian expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Trinidad Triggers players 2017 World Baseball Classic players 2019 WBSC Premier12 players Sportsmen from South Australia 21st-century Australian sportsmen