Zack Thompson

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For the right-handed pitcher, see Zach Thompson (baseball). For other people, see Zachary Thompson (disambiguation).
Zack Thompson
Thompson with the Memphis Redbirds in 2023
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 57
Pitcher
Born: (1997-10-28) October 28, 1997 (age 27)
Selma, Indiana, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 3, 2022, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record6–10
Earned run average4.50
Strikeouts119
Teams

Zachary David Thompson (born October 28, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Amateur career

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Thompson attended Wapahani High School in Selma, Indiana. He pitched to a combined 19–0 record and 0.59 ERA as a sophomore and junior along with going 4–2 with a 1.88 ERA and striking out 119 batters in 56 innings as a senior.[1] After his senior year, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 11th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[2] However, he did not sign and instead chose to enroll at the University of Kentucky to play college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats.[3]

In 2017, as a freshman at Kentucky, Thompson appeared in twenty games (13 starts) in which he went 8–3 with a 3.45 ERA.[4] As a sophomore in 2018, Thompson missed nearly two months due to an elbow injury.[5][6] He appeared in nine games, making seven starts, going 2–1 with a 4.94 ERA.[7][8] That summer, Thompson played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Brewster Whitecaps and also played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.[9][10][11][12][13] Prior to the 2019 season, Thompson was named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team.[14] He was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week on April 1 after throwing a complete-game shutout against the Georgia Bulldogs in which he struck out 13 batters while allowing only two hits.[15] Thompson finished his junior year with a 6-1 record and a 2.40 ERA over 14 starts, striking out 130 batters in ninety innings, earning a spot on the All-SEC Second Team.[16]

Professional career

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Thompson was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[17] He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 19th overall pick.[18][19] He signed for $3 million and made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals.[20][21] After two relief appearances, he was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Palm Beach Cardinals of the Florida State League, with whom he finished the year.[22] Over 13+1⁄3 innings pitched with Palm Beach, Thompson compiled a 4.05 ERA, striking out 19.[23]

Thompson did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] Before the 2021 minor league season began, he participated in spring training with the major league club.[25] Afterwards, Thompson was assigned to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A East, appearing in 22 games (19 starts) in which he went 2-10 with a 7.06 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and 57 walks over 93 innings.[26] Thompson was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) for the Glendale Desert Dogs after the season where he was named to the Fall Stars Game.[27][28] Over 17+1⁄3 innings pitched during the AFL, Thompson went 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and 15 walks.[29]

Thompson returned to Memphis to begin the 2022 season.[30] After starting ten games and going 2-2 with a 4.67 ERA, the Cardinals selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues on June 3.[31] Thompson became the first Cardinals player to wear uniform number 57 since the death of Darryl Kile during the 2002 season.[32] He made his MLB debut that day at Wrigley Field versus the Chicago Cubs, throwing four innings in relief, giving up one run, three hits, and one walk while striking out three batters and recording a save.[33]

Personal life

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Thompson grew up a fan of the Chicago Cubs.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Evaluating Zack Thompson's MLB draft prospects". Star Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Wapahani's Thompson picked in 11th round of MLB draft". Star Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "Zack Thompson turns down MLB, will enroll at Kentucky". Cats Illustrated. July 15, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  4. ^ "Justin Lewis' return gives Kentucky baseball strong rotation for 2018". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  5. ^ "'They're not giving us a chance.' Kentucky baseball out to shock the SEC again". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "Zack Thompson on returning from injury, the MLB draft and his Wapahani roots". Star Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  7. ^ "Zack Thompson poised to go early in 2019 draft". The 3rd Man In. December 27, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  8. ^ "Notes: See where Kentucky's Zack Thompson lands on top 50 prospects list". Star Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  9. ^ Staff, B. A. "Top Kentucky 2019 MLB Draft Prospects". www.baseballamerica.com.
  10. ^ "Zack Thompson". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Zack Thompson selected to USA baseball collegiate national team". Mountain News WYMT. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "Zack Thompson on experience with USA Baseball Collegiate National Team". Star Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  13. ^ "UK's Zach Thompson selected to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team". WDKY. June 7, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  14. ^ "Collett, Thompson Earn Coaches Preseason All-SEC Honors". Bluegrass Sports Nation. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  15. ^ "Zack Thompson Named the SEC Pitcher of the Week". Kentucky Sports Radio. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "Zack Thompson Named Second-Team All-SEC". University of Kentucky Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  17. ^ "MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch". Major League Baseball.
  18. ^ a b Hale, Jon. "St. Louis Cardinals fans, meet first-round MLB draft pick, Kentucky's Zack Thompson". The Courier-Journal.
  19. ^ Hummel, Rick. "Cub fan no more: Cardinals draft Kentucky lefty who has shed his arm issues". stltoday.com.
  20. ^ Hale, Jon. "Kentucky's Zack Thompson signs with St. Louis Cardinals". The Courier-Journal.
  21. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals sign first-round MLB Draft pick | Belleville News-Democrat". www.bnd.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019.
  22. ^ Rains, Rob (July 4, 2019). "The #STLCards have promoted their first round draft pick, LHP Zack Thompson, from GCL Cardinals to Palm Beach".
  23. ^ Saxon, Mark. "Q&A with the Cardinals' 2019 first-round pick, left-hander Zack Thompson". The Athletic.
  24. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  25. ^ Silver, Zachary (March 6, 2021). "Thompson aims to carry on legacy of No. 57". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  26. ^ "Redbirds Announce Opening Day Roster". MiLB.com.
  27. ^ "Cardinals announce 2021 Arizona Fall League selections". MLB.com.
  28. ^ "Check out the Fall Stars Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  29. ^ "How 5 top Cards prospects stack up for '22". MLB.com.
  30. ^ "Pipeline isn't loaded, but several top-end prospects could help the Cardinals soon".
  31. ^ Jones, Jeff (June 3, 2022). "St. Louis Cardinals summon their prized lefty pitcher to bolster the bullpen". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  32. ^ Denton, John (June 3, 2022). "Thompson promoted to Cards, given revered No. 57". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  33. ^ "Goldschmidt homers, runs hit streak to 25 as Cards beat Cubs". June 3, 2022.
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