Graduated in 1996 from West Valley High School in Yakima, Wash....he lettered in baseball, basketball and football and was an All-State baseball selection his senior year...was a member of state championship team his freshman year...played American Legion ball from 1993-96...attended the University of Arizona where he played baseball...was scouted by Manny Guerra...resides in Yakima, Wash.
2004
Right-hander had a cup of coffee for the third consecutive year, making three appearances in May. He was converted to relief for '04 and it was a successful move, but an injury derailed Pearce and he didn't pitch after late July.
2003
Had two stints with the Cardinals and appeared in seven games (all in relief)...Opened the year at Palm Beach (A) and worked in six games before a May promotion to Tennessee (AA), where he pitched in five games...Went to Memphis (AAA) in June and pitched in five games before his recall to St. Louis on 7/28...Overall at Memphis he was 3-3 with a 4.08 ERA in 10 games (nine starts), striking out 27 and walking eight in 46.1 IP...Made his 2003 Cardinals debut on 7/30 at MON, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning...Appeared in two games in his first stint for the Cards, posting a 4.50 ERA in 2.0 innings...Was optioned to Memphis on 8/11 and recalled again prior to 9/2 DH, his second stint with the Cards. ..Worked a scoreless 1.2 IP on 9/4 at CHI. ..Pitched 2.0 innings on 9/9 vs. COL - his career high for relief innings. ..Earned his lone hold of the season with a 1-2-3 sixth inning on 9/21 vs. HOU.
2002
- Got his first taste of big-league experience in an injury-shortened campaign.
- Opened the year at Memphis (AAA) and was 0-3 in three starts in April.
- Was recalled from Memphis on 4/18 when injuries hit the Cardinals pitching staff.
- He made his Major League debut on 4/20 at MIL and allowed three runs on six hits in 4.2 IP but did not figure in the decision in a 5-3 loss.
- His first career strikeout victim was FLA's Preston Wilson in the first inning on 5/2. In the bottom of the inning Josh collected his first career hit with a single off Brad Penny that scored Tino Martinez (for his first RBI) and capped a five-run frame for the Cards.
- Was optioned back to Memphis on 5/3.
- Pitched his last game in a loss at Edmonton on 5/7.
- His season came to an end when he had labral repair surgery on his right shoulder in late May.
- Was recalled from Memphis on 8/30 and placed on the 15-day disabled list.
2001
Split the year between New Haven (AA) and Memphis (AAA), combining to win 10 games. ... Was named to the Futures Game squad for the All-Star festivities at Seattlebs Safeco Field and struck out the only batter he faced, the Blue Jaysb Felipe Lopez. ... He was also named to the National League team for the Double-A All-Star game, but did not pitch. ... Posted a 2-0 win on 4/6 vs. New Britain in New Havenbs season opener. He retired the first 14 batters faced before allowing a two-out single in the fifth inning. ... His 185.0 innings pitched between New Haven and Memphis were tops among the Cardinals minor league leaders. ... Recorded his first Triple-A win on 7/21 vs. Tacoma with seven strong innings in an 8-5 triumph.
2000
Worked seven scoreless innings in a 5-0 win at Salem on 5/16 to improve to 5-2 at Potomac...had a streak of 21-straight innings without allowing a walk...retired the final 13 batters he faced in a 4/29 win over Winston-Salem as he won his third straight start...retired 19 of 20 batters, allowing one unearned run and one hit in eight innings of work on 7/28 for Arkansas (AA) but did not figure in the decision as the game vs. Shreveport went into extra innings.
1999
Threw a two-hit, 1-0 shutout win vs. Oneonta on 7/27, retiring 20-straight batters between the second and the eighth innings.
