Zack Thompson

BIOGRAPHY

Zack Thompson was born October 28, 1997, in Selma, Indiana. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Thompson was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 19th overall pick. He signed for $3 million and made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals. After two relief appearances, he was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Palm Beach Cardinals of the Florida State League, with whom he finished the year. Over 13+1⁄3 innings pitched with Palm Beach, Thompson compiled a 4.05 ERA, striking out 19.

Before the 2021 minor league season began, he participated in spring training with the major league club. Afterwards, Thompson was assigned to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A East, appearing in 22 games (19 starts) in which he went 2-10 with a 7.06 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and 57 walks over 93 innings. Thompson was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) for the Glendale Desert Dogs after the season where he was named to the Fall Stars Game. Over 17+1⁄3 innings pitched during the AFL, Thompson went 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and 15 walks.

Thompson returned to Memphis to begin the 2022 season. After starting ten games and going 2-2 with a 4.67 ERA, the Cardinals selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues on June 3. Thompson became the first Cardinals player to wear uniform number 57 since the death of Darryl Kile during the 2002 season. He made his MLB debut that day at Wrigley Field versus the Chicago Cubs, throwing four innings in relief, giving up one run, three hits, and one walk while striking out three batters and recording a save.