On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the
upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending
with the pick for 1.1
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/
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#65 J.D. Thompson LHP,
Vanderbilt
21/years old 6'
0" 203
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 |
Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Though he was a lefty with some of the best pitchability in
Texas' 2022 high school class, Thompson lacked the physicality and present
stuff to prod teams to try to buy him away from his Vanderbilt commitment.
Three years later, he's still 6 feet tall and still doesn't light up radar
guns, but he's one of the better southpaws in the college crop. He'll serve as
the Commodores' Friday-night starter in 2025 and could land in the top two
rounds.
Though Thompson's fastball camps at 90-93 mph and tops out at
95, it ranks near the top of college baseball in terms of getting strikes,
chases and swings and misses both inside and outside of the strike zone. His
heater features significant induced vertical break, and he also can command it
to both sides of the plate. His second-best offering is a 77-81 mph sweeping
slider that he uses primarily against lefties and can back-foot versus
righties.
Thompson also can miss bats with his mid-70s curveball and
low-80s changeup with mild fade but has difficulty landing both for strikes. He
has little effort in his delivery and repeats it well, so he could develop
above-average control. He comes with a high floor as a No. 4 starter and might
be better than that if his fastball continues to thrive at the next level.
1-22-25 –
Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03
41. JD Thompson – LHP
HT/WT: 6’0/203 | Bat/Throw: R/L | School: Vanderbilt | Age:
21.9
An undersized southpaw from Texas, Thompson quietly had a
fantastic sophomore campaign for the Commodores, striking out 74 batters in 52
innings with improved command in a starting role. Thompson’s delivery features
little effort and crossfire, creating deception for opposing batters.
To go with that, Thompson hides the ball very well and
features a high frontside with a fast left arm immediately following. This
allows his low-90s heater to play up slightly from the velocity, though there’s
other factors at play here.
The fastball is metrically sound with impressive carry and
arm-side tail from a three-quarters release that features some flatness to the
plate and has tickled 96 MPH. With added velocity, Thompson’s heater can be
firmly placed in the “plus” bucket, though for now, it leans above-average.
Thompson’s low-80s cambio is dynamic, hitting the brakes hard
halfway to the plate and tumbling away from the bats of right-handers,
generating a 50% whiff rate on the Cape.
He has two breaking balls, with the low-80s slider featuring
the highest upside. It’s a baby sweeper with the ability to land backfoot to
righties. The mid-70s curveball brings added depth with similar spin metrics.
Overall, he’s a polished left-hander with consistent strikes and starter upside
in pro ball.
12-23-24 - Top 50 college baseball prospects for 2025
MLB draft, per D1Baseball
50 JD Thompson LHP
Vanderbilt
10/13/24
2025 Draft Prospect - LHP - JD Thompson
Joe Doyle
@JoeDoyleMiLB Sep
19, 2024:
Vanderbilt LHP JD Thompson may be the most underrated arm in
the 2025 class. Up to 95, sitting 91-93, with a gaudy 37 percent whiff rate on
the FB despite 60% usage. Induced a 36% chase rate on the heater too. Two elite
marks. Absolutely pounds arm-side zones. Throws a CB, SL
Head coach Tim Corbin on Thompson: “JD is a very refreshing
young man to coach. His background and his tenacity to overcome life’s
challenges are very visible on the field and in the classroom. He keeps it
simple…he just competes. What you see from him, is what you get. Throwback
personality and approach. He took the ball in some very challenging situations
as a freshman and always responded. JD has winning fibers and intangibles
because of his all-sports background. He is very enjoyable to coach…zero maintenance,
self-directed and accountable.”
As a Sophomore (2024)
• ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region Second Team
• SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week (May 13)
• Held #2 Kentucky (May 18) to two runs on five hits and
totaled seven strikeouts over 4.2 innings
• Earned win vs. #1 Tennessee (May 12) with 6.0 shutout
innings, holding the Vols to two hits with nine strikeouts
• Totaled five strikeouts over two innings vs. Tennessee Tech
(April 30)
• Nine strikeouts over six scoreless innings with no walks
vs. Eastern Michigan (March 5)
• Tossed 4.2 innings in start vs. Dayton (Feb. 20) with six
strikeouts and one earned run allowed on three hits
2021 National Showcase
JD Thompson is a 2022 LHP/1B with a 6-0 180 lb. frame from
Rusk, TX who attends Rusk. Medium athletic build. Well controlled low effort
delivery, pitches within himself and repeats his mechanics well. Fastball
topped out at 87 mph, has been up to 90-91 mph frequently in the past, throws
his fastball to spots with occasional arm side running life. Curveball has good
shape and feel and will throw on any county. Change up is his most effective
pitch, locates the pitch well with fade and deception. Mix and match southpaw
who knows how to pitch and has been very effective in the past.
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