6/9/15

2015 Draft - Round 4 - (119th Pick Overall) - 3B David Thompson - UPDATED 8:10 PM



Tanous said they believe he can be a middle of the order bat and they said he controls the strike zone well. He played quarterback in high school. Paul DePodesta added Thompson may be able to move through the system quickly - 


Miami Hurricanes third baseman David Thompson had a fantastic 2015 season. Not only are the Hurricanes headed to the College World Series, but Thompson received a lot of national recognition.

Thompson earned first-team All-America honors from the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He also was named to the All-ACC first-team by the league’s coaches after a dominant season in the middle of Miami’s offense.

Not only were college coaches taking notice of Thompson’s season, but so were major league teams. The New York Metsmust have been big fans of Thompson because the team selected the junior with the 119th pick overall in the 2015 MLBDraft.
Thompson leads the nation in RBIs (87) and is tied for the national lead in home runs (19). Thompson was a major reason for the success of the Hurricanes offense, which finished the regular season ranked first nationally in total runs scored and runs per game.

Thompson led the Hurricanes in nearly every offensive category, including home runs, RBIs, doubles (18), total bases (159) and slugging percentage (.677). Thompson’s 87 RBI rank as the fourth-most in a single season in school history.

Since he was picked 119th overall (fourth round), it is slotted that Thompson will receive a signing bonus of $474,800, according to Baseball America. A few hours after he was selected, Thompson said he will focus on Saturday’s matchup against the Florida Gators instead of his future beyond this season.

“I have no idea right now,” Thompson said Tuesday when he was asked about the decision whether to return to Miami or sign with the Mets. “Right now, I’m just focused on going to Omaha. Hopefully, we can come back with some wins and a new ring.”

After graduating from Westminster Christian in Miami, he first signed with the University of Miami as a two-sport athlete. He played quarterback for the football team as a freshman before solely focusing on baseball the last two years.

After battling injuries in his first few seasons at Miami, Thompson became one of just three players to start all 64 games in 2015. He helped the Hurricanes to a 49-15 overall record and their second straight ACC Coastal Division championship. He also was a major factor in Miami winning the NCAA Coral Gables Regional title and advancing to the schools 24th College World Series.

Not only was Thompson named to the All-ACC team, he is also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award. On Tuesday, Thompson in addition was named one of 10 finalists for the 2015 Gregg Olson Award, given annually to college baseball's breakout player of the year.
After being selected so high in the 2015 MLB Draft, it is hard to see Thompson returning to the University of Miami next spring. There’s no guarantee that Thompson will have an even better senior season in 2016, so it is likely he will opt to report to the Mets.

Look at the bright side Hurricanes fans, you can still enjoy Thompson for a few more games. Thompson still has unfinished business and that’s to lead the nation’s best offense to a College World Series championship. - http://www.examiner.com/article/miami-hurricanes-third-baseman-david-thompson-selected-by-mets-4th-round 


BA - #103 -   - Thompson attended Westminster Christian in Miami, where he broke the state's single-season (19) and career (55) home runs records, eclipsing the totals of Westminster alumnus Alex Rodriguez along the way. Thompson was drafted by the Yankees in the 38th round in 2012, but went to Miami to play both football and baseball. His career as the Hurricanes quarterback never got off the ground, however, due to two surgeries to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He then missed much of his sophomore baseball season due to thoracic outlet syndrome, which required surgery to remove a rib. Finally fully healthy this spring, Thompson has excelled at the plate and is again producing the kinds of prodigious power numbers he did in high school. He led the country with 19 home runs in the regular season and slugged .683. He's a disciplined hitter and has walked more than he’s struck out during his Miami career. Thompson's shoulder surgeries have left him with below-average arm strength and he will likely be limited to first base as a professional, with an outside chance to play left field. Right-right first basemen face a tough profile, but his track record for hitting for power will likely push him into the top five rounds.


Mlb-com - #127 - Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 30 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45 - Finding college bats with power seems tough to do these days, so when a hitter at a good college program not only has it, but shows he can use it in games, teams will take notice. Thompson was among the nation's leaders in home runs in 2015, a breakout season at just the right time. Thompson's power from the right side of the plate is not in question, with home run pop to all fields, and not just in batting practice displays. He has a solid approach at the plate, though some evaluators have concern about his ability to hit better pitching. The biggest worry, though, is about Thompson's throwing arm, which is well below-average. He's played third and the outfield in the past, but it seems like first base, where he's played this spring, is his only future position. Regardless of defensive inadequacies, Thompson has hit in the Cape and then carried it over to his junior season. Someone is bound to buy the bat in the top four rounds.


Finding college bats with power seems tough to do these days, so when a hitter at a good college program not only has it, but shows he can use it in games, teams will take notice. Thompson was among the nation's leaders in home runs in 2015, a breakout season at just the right time. Thompson's power from the right side of the plate is not in question, with home run pop to all fields, and not just in batting practice displays. He has a solid approach at the plate, though some evaluators have concern about his ability to hit better pitching. The biggest worry, though, is about Thompson's throwing arm, which is well below-average. He's played third and the outfield in the past, but it seems like first base, where he's played this spring, is his only future position. Regardless of defensive inadequacies, Thompson has hit in the Cape and then carried it over to his junior season. Someone is bound to buy the bat in the top four rounds.

3 comments:

Hobie said...

Demi O. went 2 picks later (sigh).

Christopher Soto said...

Here is where the Mets will save some money in order to sign the two high upside HS lefties

Tom Brennan said...

Seems like Thompson is better suited to a DH league. But love the power.