Joshua William Paul (born May 19, 1975) is a retired American professional baseball catcher and professional coach. He most recently served as the quality control coach for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He also coached the Angels and New York Yankees.
Playing career
Amateur
Paul attended Buffalo Grove High School in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, and Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. In 1995, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). He hit .364 to lead the league, and was named the league's MVP and outstanding pro prospect. Paul was inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame in 2006.
Professional
The Chicago White Sox selected Paul in the 1996 MLB draft. He made his major league debut in 1999 and played for the White Sox until he was granted his outright release in . He was signed by the Chicago Cubs, but was again released in October of the same year. The Anaheim Angels signed him in . He was traded after the season to the Devil Rays for minor league third baseman Travis Schlichting.
After starting catcher Toby Hall was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dioner Navarro came to Tampa Bay as the Devil Rays' main catcher. Paul was limited to 35 games in because of hand and elbow injuries. On February 1, , the Rays signed Paul to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. After failing to make the team, Paul was released and signed with the Houston Astros on April 6. On June 14, Paul was released by the Astros. In his nine-year major league career he batted .244/.303/.341 with 10 home runs and 5 stolen bases.
Paul, who lost a friend in the September 11, 2001 attacks, was a proponent of playing games scheduled on September 11, 2002.
Post-playing career
In December 2008, the New York Yankees named Paul as the manager of the Staten Island Yankees, their minor league affiliate in the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League. Paul served as interim bullpen coach for the New York Yankees in 2010 while Dave Eiland was away from the team for personal reasons. From 2014 through 2017, Paul served as the Yankees' minor league catching coordinator.
The Angels hired Paul as their bench coach after the 2017 season.
The Tigers hired Paul as their quality control coach prior to the 2020 season, a position he served in until being dismissed following the 2022 season. On September 22, 2020, the Tigers added interim bench coach to his duties when Ron Gardenhire suddenly retired and bench coach Lloyd McClendon was promoted to interim manager.
Personal life
Josh's younger brother, Jeremy, is also a baseball player.