Baseball Beginnings

Baseball Beginnings on Jake Thompson, No. #66, (Tampa Bay Rays)

By Jen Marder
June 8, 2010

Today the Tampa Bay Rays selected Jake Thompson in the second round (#66 overall) in the 2010 MLB Draft. Baseball Beginnings has been scouting Thompson from the start of the draft cycle. Enjoy links to the content we have published on him through the year.

Read Jake Thompson Q&A
Read Jake Thompson Scouting Report
Read Jake Thompson Scouting Update
Watch Jake Thompson Video
Watch Jake Thompson vs. Cole Cook
Watch more Jake Thompson Video

Category: 2010 Draft | No Comments »
Tags: Jake Thompson, Long Beach State, Tampa Bay Rays

Q&A with Jake Thompson, RHP, Long Beach State (2010 Draft)

By John Klima
June 3, 2010

Jake Thompson is a free spirit with a big arm and a competitive streak. He’s had his ups-and-downs and has had to pitch his way out of a reputation as an immature kid who left high school a year early to go to Long Beach State. Maybe it’s the California in me, but I get Thompson. Maybe it’s the baseball guy in me, but I get the difference between a loose guy off the field and a warrior on it. I bet there are some teams who don’t get him and who are scared. I say the guy has a big arm. Would you like a choir angel who throws 87? There are plenty of those around.

It doesn’t mean that Thompson is the finished product, and I’d like to see him become more consistent. I’m not afraid to say that and I’m sure the guy would respect me for saying so. Hey look, big arms are hard to come by. So are guys who don’t need to be coddled. Some guys need a push. But I’d rather have the guy who needs a push than the guy who looks like a dear in headlights. The guy who has needed the push usually learns that he’s got to do it for himself. The guy who is scared usually stays scared. That’s just my experience speaking.

Some guys grow up at different paces. When it comes down it, the arm and the stuff are there. Baseball Beginnings grabbed a piece of the pine with Thompson recently and did this Q&A.

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Category: '10 Meet the Player | No Comments »
Tags: Jake Thompson, Long Beach State

Scouting Report: Jake Thompson, RHP, Long Beach State (2010 Draft)

By John Klima
June 1, 2010

Jake Thompson has come a long way from a chuck-and-duck high school days. There have been some growing years along the way and he’s had to prove himself again and again. You won’t take the competitor out of Thompson, and when he comes to the big leagues, I expect people to start saying he reminds them of Drysdale or Gibson. Look, I like pitchers who push hitters back. I like pitchers who don’t back down. Go watch a big league game. You will find guys who are afraid to pitch with the fastball. So that’s one big reason why I like Thompson.

I also really like it when the guy can throw 94 consistently and throw a slider that will make your bat explode. I can deal with the moments of inconsistent command, and though I don’t expect this guy to ever be Leake or Maddux, I do think he’s got more pitch-ability than he gets credit for. Here’s what the scouting card says.

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Category: '10 Scouting Reports | No Comments »
Tags: Jake Thompson, Long Beach State

Scouting Update: Jake Thompson, RHP, Long Beach State (2010 Draft)

By John Klima
May 28, 2010

Jake Thompson’s first pitch against Cal State Fullerton went right behind the knees of Christian Colon. I love Thompson’s cocky fearlessness on the mound. The Big West, who put a suspension on him for that, didn’t love him throwing at the conference’s golden boy. Too bad they don’t scout.

Thompson’s outing at Blair Field against the Titans showed you everything you need to know about Thompson – nasty, filthy stuff, inconsistent command of all three pitches deep into a game and bar-room brawling mentality. As a scout, all you really ought to care about is the filthy, nasty stuff.

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Category: '10 Scouting Updates | No Comments »
Tags: Jake Thompson, Long Beach State

Scouting Video: Jake Thompson, RHP, Long Beach State (2010 Draft)

By John Klima
May 14, 2010

Jake Thompson would be a muscle car of starting pitchers.

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Tags: Jake Thompson, Long Beach State

Scouting Snapshot: Devin Lohman, SS, Long Beach State (2010 Draft)

By John Klima
March 5, 2010

Devin Lohman will find himself a job after the 2010 draft. He should have a chance to kick around baseball for a few years based on a few tools. We’ll break him down here.

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Category: '10 Scouting Reports | No Comments »
Tags: Devin Lohman, Long Beach State

Ace vs. Ace: Jake Thompson vs. Cole Cook (with Video)

By John Klima
February 20, 2010

The scouting sheet wasn’t nearly as close as the score sheet when Long Beach State right-hander Jake Thompson beat Pepperdine right-hander Cole Cook 2-1 in a game between two of Southern California ’s best 2010 collegiate right-handed MLB draft pitching prospects Friday night at Blair Field in Long Beach.

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Category: '10 Videos, 2010 Draft, Ace vs. Ace | No Comments »
Tags: Cole Cook, Jake Thompson, Long Beach State, Pepperdine

Scouting Video: Jake Thompson, RHP, Long Beach State (2010 Draft)

By John Klima
December 7, 2009

Have a look at Long Beach State right-hander Jake Thompson pitching in a Fall Ball game.

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Category: '10 Videos | 1 Comment »
Tags: Jake Thompson, Long Beach State

Jonathan Singleton Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies

By John Klima
June 10, 2009

Today, the Philadelphia Phillies selected Jonathan Singleton in the 8th round (257th overall) in the draft. Follow the links below for Baseball Beginnings content on Singleton.