The Cardinals announced Tuesday that they’ve signed first-rounder Zack Thompson. The Athletic’s Mark Saxon reported minutes prior to the announcement that Thompson had agreed to terms and would receive a $3MM signing bonus, which checks in $359K south of his No. 19 overall slot value (Twitter link).
A left-handed pitcher out of the University of Kentucky, Thompson made 14 starts in 2019 and logged a 2.40 ERA with a 130-to-34 K/BB ratio over 90 innings as a junior. Scouting reports from Baseball America (No. 11), MLB.com (No. 14), Fangraphs (No. 18) and ESPN (No. 22) all agreed on two things: Thompson is a consensus first-round talent, and he might’ve gone higher in the draft had an elbow issue not held him out for much of his sophomore season in 2018.
Reports on Thompson praise him for a low-90s heater that can touch 96 mph and a slider, changeup and curveball that all have the potential to be anywhere from average to above-average offerings in pro ball. The 6’3″, 225-pound Thompson didn’t miss a start in 2019 and averaged a bit better than 6 1/3 innings per outing, which helped to quell some concerns about his previous elbow troubles.
I read where the Cardinals are very high on this guy. The plan is to fast track him to the majors.
That sounds like every pitcher they draft.
Most players are fast tracked now. That’s part of why free agency the last 2 years has tanked for veterans. Of course fast tracking is a subjective term used differently among different organizations.
I’m cold on fast-tracking.
Let starters develop their 3rd and 4th pitches for maximum eventual benefit.
Personally, i like both pitchers & catchers not to be fast tracked.
Very high on him? Thanks Sherlock, he was their 1st round pick. They want to fast track him because he’ll be injured again in 3 years.
Welcome to the Cardinals organization
The Cardinals do a great job of fast tracking. Look what they have done for the Yankees and the Rays!
Ya man, it’s such a shame that these home grown players are turning into valuable trade pieces…
Rays organization does not belong anywhere close to that conversation until they actually win something.
and those guys were in the minors for quite some time.
You mean the 31 yr old with injury problems, a degenerative eye disease and an ego the size of the Arch? Or the 28 yr old who never had much power and is surviving on crazy lucky bapip and fact he gets to face O’s 19 times a season?
Hey man, his eye disease is bad, progressive and tragic. You want GOD to strike you with a disease that takes away your ability to do the one thing you enjoy, work hard at and enjoy? Sure, he’s super confident and it rubs some people (the ones who want their servants of color servile and grateful) the wrong way. Keep it up cretin. Karma’s a beach…..
Neither Voit or Pham was fast tracked whatsoever. But Cards appreciate Gallegos, kid is a beast.
Is this the latest Fabrege Egg they call a pitcher?