Justin Thompson
Encyclopedia
Justin Ray Thompson is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers
from 1996 to 1999 and the Texas Rangers
in 2005.
and started his career in Detroit Tigers
minor league system. Thompson started his pro career with the rookie class Bristol Tigers of the Appalachian League in 1991. Thompson moved up to class "A" the next year joining the South Atlantic League's Fayetteville Generals
in 1992. In 1993 Thompson split time in A and AA, playing with the Lakeland Tigers
of the Florida State League
and the Eastern League's London Tigers
. He made his Major League debut in 1996.
He was selected to the American League
All-Star
team in 1997 at the age of 24 during a 15 win, 11 loss season in which he also finished fifth in the league with a 3.02 ERA
. Injury problems however sent him to the minor leagues soon after his start.
Thompson was traded by the Tigers to the Rangers in an eight player trade after the 1999 season which involved Juan González being sent to Detroit. He spent six seasons in the Minors
with the Rangers organization including a missed 2001 season due to a torn rotator cuff
suffered in , before playing in the Majors again for two games in 2005. Thompson elected free agency after the 2005 season and subsequently signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2005. In May 2006, he retired after playing eight games for the Brewers's Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from 1996 to 1999 and the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in 2005.
Career
Thompson was drafted out of high school in the first round of the 1991 MLB Draft1991 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Other notable players:...
and started his career in Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
minor league system. Thompson started his pro career with the rookie class Bristol Tigers of the Appalachian League in 1991. Thompson moved up to class "A" the next year joining the South Atlantic League's Fayetteville Generals
Fayetteville Generals
The Fayetteville Generals were a minor league baseball team located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.They were part of the South Atlantic League between 1987 and 1996. They were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers throughout their entire existence. Prior to the 1997 season, the Generals were renamed...
in 1992. In 1993 Thompson split time in A and AA, playing with the Lakeland Tigers
Lakeland Tigers
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.Home games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and renovated in 2003. The park, which also doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans...
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
and the Eastern League's London Tigers
London Tigers
The London Tigers were a professional AA baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1989 to 1993. They played at Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario, and were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers.-History:...
. He made his Major League debut in 1996.
He was selected to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team in 1997 at the age of 24 during a 15 win, 11 loss season in which he also finished fifth in the league with a 3.02 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. Injury problems however sent him to the minor leagues soon after his start.
Thompson was traded by the Tigers to the Rangers in an eight player trade after the 1999 season which involved Juan González being sent to Detroit. He spent six seasons in the Minors
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Rangers organization including a missed 2001 season due to a torn rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
suffered in , before playing in the Majors again for two games in 2005. Thompson elected free agency after the 2005 season and subsequently signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2005. In May 2006, he retired after playing eight games for the Brewers's Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
.
See also
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger