When Josh Ockimey starred for Neumann-Goretti’s baseball team and when he played minor league baseball recently with the Boston Red Sox and the Phillies, he used to keep track of what kind of pitches he would see as a hitter. Ockimey kept a little notebook on each pitcher and what was their best pitches. This method along with his overall knowledge has served him well as a professional scout with the Kansas City Royals.
“I would have a hitting journal,” Ockimey said. “I would write what the pitchers did. So, when I had to face him again. I would have a better feel for him. That was the beginning of scouting.”
Ockimey, 29, decided to retire from playing baseball in 2023 after spending eight years playing first base in the minors. He was a brilliant player at N-G. Ockimey, power hitter, was a fifth-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.
He played from 2014 to 2021 with the Red Sox organization. He also played the 2022 season with the Phillies. During his years with the Red Sox minor leagues, he had 113 home runs, 12 RBI with a .236 batting average in 795 games. He played 65 games with the Phillies’ Triple A Lehigh Valley IronPigs with eight home runs and 27 RBI. He had a short stint with the Double A Reading Fightin Phils where he hit .253 with nine home runs and 27 RBI.
It was a tough decision for Ockimey to put the bat and glove down and start a new career.
“I was Triple A at the time,” he said. “I think about that some time. I look at it on the side of scouting. You see some of these positions. You see the amount of impact you have to have like first base. There’s not a lot of guys that stick around at that position. I think about it.”
Ockimey landed his first position in scouting with the Boson Red Sox.
Josh Ockimey played from 2014 to 21 with the Boston Red Sox/ Photo courtesy Josh Ockimey
“It was a one-year intern development role for Boston,” Ockimey said. “I learned the ins and outs on how to become a scout and write up a report.”
The experience really helped him secure a job as a professional scout with the Kansas City Royals. This is his second year with the Royals. t.
“My first-year scouting was in 2023,’ Ockimey said. “You really get to see how the other side of baseball is run. I’m on my second year scouting officially with the Kansas City Royals. They brought me on with open arms. My first day everybody reached out, called and text me.
“They said to me if I need anything don’t be scared to give us a shout. This is a team. We’re all here working together. I’ve been so happy to not only feel that, but to see it in real time. Terms of my voice and opinions are valued and want to be heard.”
Ockimey has made a smooth transition from playing to scouting.
“I never knew how much was into scouting,” he said. “Last year, Kansas City was in the playoffs. I see all the things come into play. I love this.”
Neumann-Goretti Standout Josh Ockimey Sees All Things Coming Into Play Scouting for the Kansas City Royals. ( Photo courtesy of Josh Ockimey)