Team: low Class A Kannapolis (South Atlantic)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .385/.500/.846 (10-for-26), 3 HR, 3 2B, 7 RBIs, 6 R, 3 BB, 8 SO, 0-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Thompson struck out 41 times in 106 at-bats last summer in Rookie ball. But even with a strikeout rate hovering near 40 percent, Appalachian League managers were not deterred, praising the second-round pick for his power and physicality. This year, Thompson is making his doubters look foolish, connecting for six extra-base hits in his first week of South Atlantic League play. It’s too soon to make lofty comparisons, but Thompson’s career beginnings are reminiscent of another second-round prep pick from Southern California: Mike Stanton. The Marlins’ slugger hit all of .161/.226/.268 with 21 whiffs in 56 at-bats during his 2007 pro debut.
And Nathan Jones is at the ‘Helium Watch’ section (end).
UPDATE: And from the hot sheet chat:
Mike (Utica, NY): Does Thompson have more upside than anyone in the Whitesox system?
Matthew Eddy: You could make that case. But Jared Mitchell might have something to say about that when all’s said and done.
