Jake

Thompson

Thompson began the 2019 season in the Korea Baseball Organization before returning to North America in July and posting some decent numbers in the Tigers’ minor league system. The 25-year-old right-hander will serve as organizational depth for the Halos leading into the 2020 campaign.

Thompson was drafted by the Tigers back in 2012 before moving on to Philadelphia and then South Korea. The 25-year-old right-hander had registered a 4.74 ERA and 60/23 K/BB ratio through 62 2/3 innings (11 starts) this season with the Lotte Giants in the KBO.

Thompson had a 4.96 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and 14/11 K/BB ratio in 16 1/3 innings of relief this past season with the Phillies. The former top prospect should get another chance to work as a starting pitcher in the KBO. He’s only 24 years old, so we wouldn’t rule out an eventual return to Major League Baseball.

Thompson did struggle with his control in walking four, but overall, this was a fine effort for the 22-year-old right-hander. Only a solo home run by Matt Kemp in the second inning managed to mar the outing. Thompson will bring a 6.48 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 22/18 K/BB ratio into a road start against the Nationals next time out as he continues to learn the major league ropes.

He finished with three strikeouts while extending his unbeaten streak to seven starts. Over that span, he’s gone 4-0 with a ridiculous 0.73 ERA. Thompson has thrown the second-most innings in the International League this season (104 2/3) and also ranks fifth in ERA (2.58). Opponents have hit .232 against him this year with 72 strikeouts in 379 at-bats.

Nola could be looking at a season-ending elbow injury. The offshoot of this is that Phillies fans can now likely look forward to seeing one of their top prospects in action down the stretch. Thompson, 22, has pitched to a sharp 2.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 87/37 K/BB ratio over 129 2/3 innings with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

He gave up five hits, issued four bases-on-balls and fanned four on the night. He was making his third start since being called up from Triple-A. The results have not been pretty so far. He has an 8.79 ERA with 11 punchouts and nine walks in 14 1/3 innings. He displayed good control in the minors but struggled to miss bats. He is only 22 years old and could develop into a mid-rotation starter eventually.

He’s replacing Aaron Nola, who is out with a sprained elbow. Thompson has pitched to a 2.50 ERA in 21 outings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year and has won each of his last five starts. A highly-touted prospect, Thompson could be here to stay if he impresses down the stretch.

The victory extended his winning streak to five games and his unbeaten streak to 11 starts. Sunday’s effort was an improvement from his previous outing when he was shelled for five runs in a win over Syracuse. The 22-year-old doesn’t have a lot left to prove in the minor leagues. He leads the International League with 11 wins and also holds the league’s fourth-lowest WHIP (1.10) and fifth-lowest ERA (2.50). He should make his big league debut before this year is over.

The Nats got to Thompson with a couple runs in the first inning, but the young right-hander permitted only five hits and no walks over six shutout frames the rest of the way. It was easily his best start as a pro, but he fell to 1-4, anyway, getting out-pitched by Tanner Roark. Thompson gets the Braves this weekend.