Jake Thompson

Position: RHP
Born: 1/31/1994
Height: 6'4
Weight: 235
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Via trade from the Rangers on July 31, 2015, with RHPs Matt Harrison, Alec Asher and Jerad Eickhoff, C Jorge Alfaro and OF Nick Williams for LHP Cole Hamels and RHP Jake Diekman (PHI). Originally drafted in the second round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft (DET).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 11-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 21 starts at Lehigh Valley (Triple-A), striking out 87 and walking 37 in 129 .2 IP while allowing 105 hits.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Contract purchased from Lehigh Valley on August 6 when LHP Brett Oberholtzer was designated for assignment.
MLB Debut Date: 8/6/2016

Debut Details
August 6, in a 9-7 loss to the Padres. The starting pitcher he took the loss, allowing six runs, all earned, on seven hits in 4.1 IP, walking two and striking out one. The first batter he faced, Travis Jankowski, singled to left field on the first pitch of the game. With the No. 2 batter, Wil Myers, at the plate, Thompson threw a wild pitch before walking Myers, and then surrendered a single to Yangervis Solarte, allowing Jankowski to score. Alex Dickerson made the first out, a lineout to right field, and Thompson then recorded his lone strikeout, getting Jabari Blash looking. However, Ryan Schimpf then drew a walk to load the bases with two outs and Christian Bethancourt’s line drive double to center field cleared them. The inning was finally over when Alexei Ramirez grounded out to shortstop. Thompson retired the side in order in the second on a trio of groundouts, and danced between some small threats in scoreless third and fourth innings before the floodgates opened again in the fifth. Jankowski and Myers once again got things started, this time with back-to-back doubles, after which Thompson hit Solarte with a pitch. Dickerson grounded out to first but at that point, with one out and runners on second and third, the Phillies turned the ball over to reliever Luis Garcia. After walking Blash, he gave up a sacrifice fly to Ryan Schimpf, scoring Jankowski with the final run charged to Thompson. Thompson also went 1-for-2 at the plate, though, hitting an infield single in the fourth inning against Padres starter Paul Clemens.

Player Notes
The 2,000th player to don a Phillies uniform in franchise history, Thompson is arguably also the organization’s top pitching prospect. Now with his third system, after having been dealt by the Detroit Tigers, who drafted him, to the Texas Rangers (with RHP Corey Knebel for RHP Joakim Soria on July 23, 2014), he boasts the system’s best slider to go with a mid-90s fastball, curveball and changeup. He was on a hot streak when promoted, having posted a 1.21 ERA in his last 11 starts at Lehigh Valley. He combined in 2015 for an 11-7 record and 3.73 ERA in 24 starts between two Double-A teams, Frisco (Rangers) and Reading (Phillies), striking out 112 in 132 2/3 innings while walking 42 and allowing 127 hits. In his career, he’s combined for a 3.06 ERA.

2080 Notes
Thompson got the nod at No. 35 in 2080 Baseball’s Preseason Top 125 Prospect Rankings List where we had this to say about him: “With a big, physical workhorse build, and a solid four-pitch mix with a plus slider and sinker, Thompson was a solid low-risk get for the Phillies as part of the Cole Hamels deal with the Rangers last year. The upside may not be as high as some, but his low risk and proximity to the major leagues pushes him up to the top 1/3 of our list.” You can also read our Prospect Spotlight about Thompson here, and check out our scouting report on Thompson here.