Jake Thompson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #3 prospect in 2016
  Just four seasons into his pro career, Thompson already has been traded twice. Originally drafted by the Tigers, he signed for $500,000, then was sent to the Rangers for Joakim Soria in July 2014. One year and eight days later, Thompson was part of the six-player package the Rangers used to pry lefty ace Cole Hamels during the Phillies' dismantling. He pitched 10 scoreless innings for USA Baseball's Pan American Games in 2015. Thompson sports a five-pitch mix, which includes a 92-94 mph four-seam fastball, an 89-92 two-seamer and a plus slider that parks in the high 80s. He's also got a curveball and a changeup, both of which are still developing. He's a big-bodied pitcher who weighs in near 250 pounds, so some evaluators note that he'll have to watch his conditioning in order to work deep into games. The Phillies brought Thompson to instructional league to get him in front of more coaches and to help him work on further developing his pitchability. He needs the most help with his command and the quality of his changeup, for he allowed lefthanded batters to hit .283 in 2015. He appears destined to head to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2016 and profiles as mid-rotation starter with the ceiling of a No. 2.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #2 prospect in 2015
  The Tigers sacrificed their first-round pick in 2012 to sign Prince Fielder, so Thompson at No. 91 overall was their top selection. Detroit held him back in extended spring training the first two months of 2013, but he flew through the system after that slow start, reaching Double-A Erie as a 20-year-old in July 2014. Two starts later, the Tigers packaged him with relief prospect Corey Knebel to add reliever Joakim Soria to a thin Tigers bullpen. Thompson throws two-seam and four-seam fastballs downhill at 89-95 mph, with good sink and tail on his two-seamer. His best secondary weapon is his plus slider, a swing-and-miss pitch with two-plane break that flashes 70 on the 20-80 scale. Thompson didn't use his changeup much early in his career, but it's become an average pitch with projection to tick up. He mixes in an occasional curveball as well, and it too can be average. He's a solid strike-thrower, though he could tighten up his fastball command. The Tigers' desperation for bullpen help is the Rangers' gain. As a potential No. 2 or 3 starter, Thompson could be a steal. He's slated to return to Double-A Frisco to open 2015.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #4 prospect in 2014
  The Tigers forfeited their first-round draft pick in 2012 for signing Prince Fielder, so they had to wait until pick No. 91 for their first selection, which they used on Thompson. After staying back in extended spring training the first two months of 2013, Thompson reported to low Class A West Michigan and had a solid season. Thompson throws three average or better pitches, operating off a low-90s fastball that can touch 95 mph. He delivers the ball with a steep downhill plane, mixing a harder four-seamer with a livelier two-seamer that has solid sink and tail. Thompson's low-80s slider has tight bite when it's on, though it can flatten out on him. It's a potential plus pitch that he commands well. Thompson has shown feel for an average circle-changeup that could tick up higher, but he hasn't used it much yet. He also introduced a mid- to high-70s curveball in 2013 that improved as the season progressed, but it's still a new pitch. Thompson wore down after his high school season in 2012 and the Tigers let him throw just 83 innings in 2013, so he'll have to prove he can handle a larger workload. If he can, he's a potential mid-rotation starter whose next stop is high Class A Lakeland.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #4 prospect in 2013
  The Tigers didn't have a first-round pick in 2012 after signing Prince Fielder, so their top choice didn't come until 91st overall. Detroit went with Thompson, who turned down a commitment to Texas Christian to sign for $531,800. He pitched Rockwall-Heath High to the Texas 4-A championship, going 12-1, 0.73 on the mound and hitting .448 with nine homers as a first baseman. Thompson looks like a future rotation workhorse with his physical, proportioned frame. He throws fastballs that sit at 88-92 mph and top out at 95. His fastball has heavy life and he works on a steep downhill plane to the plate. His slider shows occasional tight bite and the flashes of being a plus pitch down the road, though it flattens out at times. He also shows feel for a changeup. Thompson held his velocity deep into games during his high school season, but he pitched 90 innings as a senior and started to wear down in pro ball. The Tigers shut him down in early August and kept him out of instructional league. His stuff and consistency should improve now that he's focusing on pitching. Thompson has the stuff, athleticism and work ethic to profile as a mid-rotation starter. After his abbreviated pro debut, he'll likely start 2013 in extended spring training before heading to short-season Connecticut in June.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #139 prospect in 2012 draft
  Thompson is having the best spring and is believed to be the most signable of the top players in a strong Texas Christian recruiting class that also includes Mitchell Traver and Austin Aune. He originally committed to Nebraska, then changed his mind after the Cornhuskers fired coach Mike Anderson. Strong and physical at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Thompson pitches at 88-92 mph and touches 94, and he holds his velocity deep into games. He has improved his slider this spring, giving him a second plus pitch at times, though it lacks depth at others. His stuff and consistency should improve once he focuses on pitching. He also plays first base for Rockwall-Heath and offers plenty of righthanded power potential, though his future definitely is on the mound.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #17 prospect in 2015
  Thompson has been dealt at each of the past two trade deadlines, by the Tigers to Rangers for Joakim Soria in 2014, then from Texas to the Phillies this year in the eight-player Cole Hamels blockbuster. Acquiring teams covet Thompson for his plus slider, which is an out pitch he throws up to 87 mph with depth at its best. He touches 94 mph with his fastball but sits more at 89-91 with downhill plane. He has a big, durable body that teams dream of getting 200 innings out of annually. Thompson trimmed his walk rate to a career-best 2.8 batters per nine innings this season, but he also allowed a career worst .255 opponent average and 10 home runs. Scouts came away projecting that the righthander might be a better fit as a reliever. "He has good stuff, but he's all or nothing," one scout said. "As he got tired, when the pitch count got up to 50-60, his pitches started to flatten out." Scouts pointed to Thompson's lack of conditioning and a "big, fleshy body" as culprits, and they said the Tigers had expected his velocity to tick up from high school but that it did not.
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  Ranked Florida State League #13 prospect in 2014
  Thompson left the league after a promotion to Double-A and was clearly the top prospect on the Lakeland roster. Two starts into his tenure at Erie, the Tigers traded him to the Rangers for Joakim Soria, and he finished the season throwing well in the Texas League. Prior to his departure, Thompson was one of the more effective young starters in the FSL, pounding the strike zone with a solid-average fastball that sat at 89-91 mph and touched 94. At his best, he pitched to the bottom of the strike zone effectively, for his fastball features both sinking life and downhill plane. Thompson's slider is his best pitch, a present plus pitch at up to 87 mph. Some scouts project the slider to a future 70 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale. Thompson has a loose arm and big, durable frame that profile him as a solid No. 3 starter and potential innings-eater. He'll need to refine his control and be more consistent with how he uses his changeup.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #14 prospect in 2012
  Detroit's top pick (second round) in the 2012 draft, Thompson dominated GCL hitters for seven starts before his arm got tired. He held opponents to a .149 average and struck out 9.9 per nine innings before the Tigers shut him down in early August. Big and physical, Thompson has a lively fastball that sits at 88-92 mph and reaches 94. He throws strikes and held his velocity deep into his starts during the high school season. His slider is a plus pitch at times though flat at others, and he also has flashed some feel for a changeup.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #75 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #43 prospect in 2015

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The Tigers didn't have a first-round pick in 2012 after signing Prince Fielder, so their top choice didn't come until 91st overall. Detroit went with Thompson, who turned down a commitment to Texas Christian to sign for $531,800. He pitched Rockwall-Heath High to the Texas 4-A championship, going 12-1, 0.73 on the mound and hitting .448 with nine homers as a first baseman. Scouting Report: Thompson looks like a future rotation workhorse with his physical, proportioned frame. He throws fastballs that sit at 88-92 mph and top out at 95. His fastball has heavy life and he works on a steep downhill plane to the plate. His slider shows occasional tight bite and the flashes of being a plus pitch down the road, though it flattens out at times. He also shows feel for a changeup. Thompson held his velocity deep into games during his high school season, but he pitched 90 innings as a senior and started to wear down in pro ball. The Tigers shut him down in early August and kept him out of instructional league. His stuff and consistency should improve now that he's focusing on pitching. The Future: Thompson has the stuff, athleticism and work ethic to profile as a mid-rotation starter. After his abbreviated pro debut, he'll likely start 2013 in extended spring training before heading to short-season Connecticut in June.