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Kevin Thompson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Kevin DeShawn Thompson (born September 18, 1979 in Fort Worth, Texas
) is a professional baseball outfielder
who is currently a free-agent.
with the Benbrook youth league and graduated with honors from Western Hills High School, where he played baseball and football. Thompson recently graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with his Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance as of May 2011.
.
He was a South Atlantic League All-Star selection in 2002 and a Florida State League All-Star in 2003. Injuries plagued his 2004 season, however, he went to the Arizona Fall League and excelled. Hitting .320 with 5 homeruns, he was nominated to Arizona Fall League All-Prospects team in 2004.
He won the Yankees' minor league player of the year award for the season, when he played with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder
and the Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
. He made his major league debut on June 3, , as a member of the Yankees, getting his first major league hit
in the game.
's injury. He had a two-RBI
double
in his first at bat
of the season against the Twins off of Dennys Reyes
. On September 1, the Yankees designated Thompson for assignment, and he was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics
on September 7. He was later claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates
on October 15.
, but was released due to hand surgery on June 25.
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
. On September 4, 2009 Thompson Signed A minor league contract with the Texas Rangers
.
of the American Association. He was released by them on February 10, 2011.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
) is a professional baseball outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who is currently a free-agent.
Early life
Thompson played Little LeagueLittle League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
with the Benbrook youth league and graduated with honors from Western Hills High School, where he played baseball and football. Thompson recently graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with his Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance as of May 2011.
Career
He was selected in the 18th round (529th overall) of the amateur entry draft by the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
He was a South Atlantic League All-Star selection in 2002 and a Florida State League All-Star in 2003. Injuries plagued his 2004 season, however, he went to the Arizona Fall League and excelled. Hitting .320 with 5 homeruns, he was nominated to Arizona Fall League All-Prospects team in 2004.
He won the Yankees' minor league player of the year award for the season, when he played with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
and the Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
. He made his major league debut on June 3, , as a member of the Yankees, getting his first major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in the game.
2007
On April 8, , he was called up because of Hideki MatsuiHideki Matsui
is a Japanese Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York...
's injury. He had a two-RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in his first at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
of the season against the Twins off of Dennys Reyes
Dennys Reyes
Dennys Reyes is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He has played for ten teams since his major league career began in . Reyes throws left-handed and is considered a lefty specialist. He stands 6'3" and weighs 250 pounds. His nickname is "The Big Sweat."...
. On September 1, the Yankees designated Thompson for assignment, and he was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
on September 7. He was later claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on October 15.
2008
Thompson started with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis IndiansIndianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, but was released due to hand surgery on June 25.
2009
Thompson has signed with the Newark BearsNewark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. On September 4, 2009 Thompson Signed A minor league contract with 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...
.
2010
Thompson played for the Fort Worth CatsFort Worth Cats
The Fort Worth Cats are a professional baseball team based in Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. The Cats are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2002 season the Cats...
of the American Association. He was released by them on February 10, 2011.