Results tagged ‘ Rich Thompson ’
Toronto release Rich Thompson, Indians release Andrew Campbell
Rich Thompson has been released by the Blue Jays who in December 2012 had signed him to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.
Rich was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Anaheim Angels on 13 February 2002.
In 2004, he played in the Australian Olympic baseball team, which achieved a silver medal at the Athens Olympics.
He made his major league debut for the Angels on 1st Sept. 2007.
In 2008, Thompson began the season with the Angels. However after allowing five earned runs on four hits in his only outing against the Texas Rangers, Thompson was optioned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.
He made one more appearance with the Angels, but became hurt pitching in Memphis for the Triple-A team and spent the majority of his 2008 season rehabbing his shoulder injury in Arizona.
On 10 September 2010 Thompson picked up his first major league win after the Angels went into extra innings against the Seattle Mariners.
Last year the Angels put him on waivers and the Oakland Athletics claimed him. On 25 April 2012, the Athletics designated him for assignment. He spent most of the 2012 season in AAA.
Brisbane’s Andrew Campbell played in rookie ball and low A last season for Cleveland who released him at the end of Spring Training.
Although signed in December 2008 he had two seasons with the Indians, 2011/2012 and finished with a .172BA in 33 games, 116AB, 13RBI.
Andrew played 30 games for the Brisbane Bandits this summer hitting .288 in 104ABs
Spring Training – Aussies in action – Bad news for Thompson – Good news for Spence and Moylan;
Rich has been sent to minor league camp
Dodgers’ Peter Moylan threw a scoreless 8th against the Indians allowing one hit and a walk whilst striking out two. Another pleasing day in the office for Peter.
Yankees’ Josh Spence had to come on to get the Yankees out of an error created bind in the 8th against the Red Sox. Leading 4-1 infield errors put two runners on with one out when Josh came on against two Red Sox lefties. Without exceeding 80mph but with good use of his change up and slider he induced two groundouts to get the Yankees out of trouble. NY went on to win 5-2. That is likely to be the role that Josh will be expected to play should he make the team.
Bad news for Rich Thompson today with the Blue Jays sending him down to minor league camp. Hopefully he will climb back during the season.
Spring Training:- Aussies in action today – Thompson
Rich Thompson was the only Australian in action today. Once again he was brought on to throw the 9th but this time with the Blue Jays down 8-5 to the Twins.
Again Rich threw a scoreless inning allowing 1H, 1BB whilst striking out one. No save today but another good outing by the Sydney native.
Australia’s Rich Thompson savours baseball journey that led to the Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Richard Thompson pitches during baseball spring training in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
By Neil Davidson/The Canadian Press
DUNEDIN, Fla. – Rich Thompson is easy to pick out in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse.
The Aussie accent stands out, for one. Then there’s the Athens 2004 Olympic tattoo on the back of his shoulder.
The 28-year-old right-handed reliever signed a minor-league contract with the Jays in December that came with an invitation to spring training. He arrives from a brief stint with Oakland and a lengthy spell in the Angels organization.
It’s another chapter in a baseball career that has taken Thompson around the globe. He’s starting his 12th season in pro baseball.
The Aussie pitcher is not to be confused with the American outfielder Rich Thompson, whose career includes stints in the Toronto, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Arizona, Boston, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay organizations.
This Thompson signed with the Angels when he was 17.
“It’s been a long road, but hopefully we can get some more time in the big leagues. And get some more Aussies in the big leagues,” he said.
When he came over to North America in 2002, he wasn’t sure what to expect. But he knew just signing a pro contract wasn’t the end of his journey.
“It was always my goals to get to the big leagues. And stay for a long time. And it’s been pretty good so far. I’m still getting a uniform,” he added with a smile.
Thompson had a good 2011, spending the entire season with the Angels. He went 1-3 with a 3.00 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 20 walks in 54 innings.
But last year, his major league experience was limited to three innings in total with the Angels and Oakland. He spent the bulk of the year with the Sacramento River Cats, the Athletics’ farm team in the Pacific Coast League.
Thompson still isn’t sure what happened.
“It was kind of a funny year,” he said. “I thought I had done OK the year before. Just the way things played out, I spent most of the year in Triple-A.”
Thompson is probably a exercise in depth for the Jays, who are hoping they get the 2011 version. There are two spots up for grabs in the bullpen and Thompson’s name has not been mentioned in the sweepstakes.
“He’s going to get some opportunities to pitch here, no doubt,” said pitching coach Pete Walker, choosing his words carefully. “He’ll get his innings and hopefully he makes the most of it.”
Thompson, however, is nothing but positive.
“It’s really good, it’s exciting. Nice to get a new start,” he said. “And hopefully a good new experience here with the Blue Jays.”
His goal is to just to give it his best shot. “There’s nothing more I can do than perform my best.”
Thompson, who throws a fastball, curve, cutter and change-up, has already drawn praise at camp.
“You were getting reactions from hitters saying he’s hiding the ball well, you can’t see it,” catcher Josh Thole said after handling Thompson during a live batting practice session. “A good mix of pitches too.”
Thompson’s baseball journey led him to his wife, who is from Arkansas. They have a two-year-old son and a home there, but spend about a month a year in Australia.
“Not long enough for me, but that’s the way it is,” he said.
A native of Hornsby, Australia, he went to high school in Sydney. He played just about every sport growing up, including T-ball from the age of five and a half.
“I really never stopped, just fell in love with the game straight away. It was just a constant in my life. Everything else came and went. And I just kept playing baseball and kept going through the ranks playing with Australian teams and state teams. And I ended up getting signed.”
It took time to get to the majors. He made his debut Sept. 1, 2007, against Texas, striking out two before giving up a double to (Ian) Kinsler. He wrapped up a scoreless inning by getting a groundout to second base.
“It’s funny how you remember your debut,” he said with a smile.
“It was a breath of fresh air for me,” he added. “It just spurred on everything. To get that first taste of the big leagues was really amazing.”
He has appeared in the majors every year since then, although some seasons were shorter than others. His career MLB totals read 3-4 with a 4.21 ERA, 105 strikeouts and 37 walks in 82 games (104.2 innings).
In 2004, a 20-year-old Thompson won an Olympic silver medal with Australia.
The Aussie defeated Daisuke Matsuzaka and Japan 1-0 in one semifinal while Cuba defeated Canada 8-5 in the other. The Cubans went on to win the gold-medal game 6-2 while Japan downed Canada 11-2 to take the bronze.
“A tremendous experience,” said Thompson, who joked the Australians were “favoured to come seventh.”
One of 31 Australians to play in the majors, Thompson is the first from Down Under to play for an MLB all-star team, touring Taiwan in 2011.
Thompson follows in the footsteps of Japanese-born Australian pitcher Micheal Nakamura, one of several Australians who have gone through the Toronto system.
“It’s pretty great to be here actually,” said Thompson, “because when I first signed originally, it was between the Angels and the Blue Jays.
“It’s kind of exciting to play for a Commonwealth team. And I really love Toronto when I’ve been there as a visitor.”
Blue Jays sign Rich Thompson
Rich Thompson
AAP
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Rich Thompson who became a minor league league free agent last month. His minor league contract also includes an invite to Major League spring training.
Thompson, a 28-year-old right-hander, played for the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland last season, posting a 0-1 record with a 15.43 ERA in three games. In 46 relief appearances for AAA Sacramento, he posted a 4-2 record with a 3.34 ERA and 58 strikeouts.
In parts of six major-league seasons, he has a 3-4 record with a 4.21 ERA in 82 games.
Grant Balfour available to play for Australia
The WBC has advised that Grant Balfour has committed to play for Australia in the World Baseball Classic next March. Fellow A’s pitcher Travis Blackley is also expected to be available. Former Major Leaguer Ryan Rowland-Smith is also making himself available to play for Australia.
Twins Major Leaguer Liam Hendriks, who had previously committed to play, has been withdrawn following an operation on his right elbow to remove bone chips. Former Angels’ pitcher Rich Thompson who played for the A’s AAA team this year is also expected to suit up for Australia. Rich was this week non-tendered by the A’s and is currently a free agent looking for a job.
Grant was resigned by the A’s earlier this month for $4.5 million and was today listed as the 5th best reliever in the MLB after Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, Jason Motte and Fernando Rodney but ahead of notable relievers such as Mariano Rivera, Jonathon Papelbon, Joe Nathan, Jose Valverde and David Phelps.
Rich Thompson’s River Cats End Season With 7-4 Loss to Aces
RENO, Nev. - Sacramento led 3-0 in the fifth, but allowed Reno to score six unanswered runs to lose a decisive game five by a score of 7-4 at Aces Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.
Rich Thompson was called upon to put out the fire in the 7th after Reno broke up a 3 all tie with a 3RBI home run but it was too little too late to save elimination.
Thompson gets loss in AAA Championship game.
Rich Thompson
Two walks, a single and a home run in the 8th were the undoing of Rich Thompson’s relief effort in Game 3 of the Championship Series between the Sacremento River Cats and Reno.
The score was tied at 7 each when Rich came on in the 8th but his 1 inning quickly changed the result with Reno winning 11-7 and leading the Series 2-1 in the 5 game series.
Rich Thompson’s River Cats lose Game 1
Rich Thompson – 2 scoreless innings in relief
The River Cats lost game one of their best-of-five series to the Reno Aces by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday night.
The postseason opener was a pitchers’ duel from the outset, with neither team scoring a run until the top of the third inning. In that frame, Aces shortstop Wladimir Sutil reached base on a fielding error from River Cats third baseman Grant Green, eventually coming around to score on a double from Tyler Kuhn. A.J. Pollock, who singled after Sutil reached base, came round to score Reno’s second run on a Mike Jacobs sacrifice-fly, putting the Aces ahead, 2-0.
The River Cats cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth, using a fielding error from Brent Clevlen to plate Michael Taylor. Each team’s pitching staff cruised for the remainder of the contest until Sacramento reliever Arnold Leon gave up a solo home run to Reno third baseman Tyler Bortnick in the top of the ninth, giving the Aces a 3-1 advantage they would not relinquish. The Aces now lead the best-of-five series, 1-0.
Billings gave up five hits and one walk with two unearned runs to go along with the 10 strikeouts in the losing effort.
Rich Thompson went two shutout innings. His line was 2INN, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K.
Thompson throws scoreless inning; Russell gets Save; Tanner gets whacked
Andrew Russell – 2nd Save
Perhaps Clayton Tanner came off the DL too soon or perhaps he and his fellow pitchers just ran into a hot Tacoma. Clayton came on in the 8th with 1 out after Fresno had given 5 runs in the inning and finished it off quite effectively. The 9th, however, was a different story. He faced 6 hitters without getting an out and conceding 6 runs. Tacoma swamped Fresno, beating them 19-3. Obviously a game that both Clayton and the team will want to forget.
Rich Thompson threw another scoreless 9th for Sacremento is his closer role for the River Cats. He is 3.34 for the season.
Andrew Russell was awarded his 2nd Save for the Gwinnett Braves in their 7-1 win over Norfolk. It was the 4th consecutive scoreless outing for Andrew.
