The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have their manager for the upcoming 2026 season.

The Scrappers will be led by former major league infielder Joe Thurston. The team announced the move on Tuesday morning via a press release.

“I am honored to be a part of the 2026 Mahoning Valley Scrappers,” Thurston said in the press release. “Having the opportunity to manage the Scrappers is something I am looking forward to very much. I’ve heard so many great things about the fans and the community. I am ready to be a part of the Mahoning Valley.”

Thurston appeared in 184 games over the course of seven seasons in the big leagues. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999. During his career, he appeared in games for the Dodgers (2002-04), Philadelphia Phillies (2006), Boston Red Sox (2008), St. Louis Cardinals (2009) and the Florida Marlins (2011).

Thurston has been the hitting coach for affiliate clubs of the Boston Red Sox (2015), Cincinnati Reds (2016) and Seattle Mariners (2017-19).

He made his return to the majors as a coach in 2020, when he was the first base coach for the Seattle Mariners.

In 2022, Thurston served as the hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 2025, he became the hitting coach for the Houston Astros’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.

But this spring, Thurston will make his managerial debut with the Scrappers. He’ll take over for Quinton McCracken, who led the Scrappers for the past two summers.

The Scrappers are set to open the 2026 season at 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood on June 2 against the State College Spikes.

For more information, ticket packages and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.mvscrappers.com.