Rich Thompson (outfielder)

Richard Charles Thompson (born April 23, 1979 in Reading, Pennsylvania) is a professional baseball outfielder who is currently playing in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 6th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft. Thompson played his first professional season with their Low-A Queens Kings in 2000. Thompson was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in July 2003 for pitcher John Wasdin

Thompson has played one season at the major league level, playing for the Kansas City Royals in April 2004 as a Rule 5 Draft pick who mainly entered games to pinch-run. Thompson stole one base and scored one run in five appearances as a pinch runner. His only at-bat was against Tim Laker on April 20, 2004, and resulted in the speedy Thompson grounding into a double play. Soon after that game, the Royals returned Thompson to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 2007, he played for the Tucson Sidewinders, the Triple-A club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thompson signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox during the 2007-2008 offseason, but was released in April before playing a game in the organization. Shortly after his release, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is currently assigned to the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Personal life

Thompson graduated in 1997 from Montrose Area Jr./Sr. High School in Montrose, Pennsylvania. He played on the Montrose Meteors Varsity baseball team.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube