Jake Thompson In A Groove At Lehigh Valley
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A little less than a year ago, the Phillies made that big trade with Texas, sending veteran left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels to the Rangers.
In return, the Phillies got a package of talented prospects back. One player, right-hander Jerad Eickhoff, has already proven to be a solid starting pitcher. Another right-hander from that deal could join him in the rotation one day soon.
22-year-old Jake Thompson is 6-5 this season for Triple-A Lehigh Valley with a 2.76 ERA heading into his next start Wednesday against Rochester. In his last six appearances, Thompson is 3-0 with a 0.85 ERA and he has pitched at least six innings in all six of those starts.
"Felt good lately," Thompson tells KYW Newsradio. "Took a while for kind of things to click. But once I got a few good ones under my belt, just constantly working in the bullpen to make sure things stay intact. I've had pretty good success."
The 6'4" Thompson features four pitches in his repetoire: fastball, change-up, slider and curveball. He talks about what's been keying his recent success.
Listen to KYW's Matt Leon's full interview with Jake Thompson:
"More than anything just command," Thompson says. "Even when I get myself behind in counts, I'm still able to make a pitch to either get back to even or get a weak contact out, which has been big. Didn't necessarily have that at the start of the season, I think that's probably the biggest reason that I struggled out of the gate."
He was originally drafted by the Tigers in 2012. Detroit traded him to Texas in 2014 and then the Rangers made the move last year to send him to the Phillies. Despite moving through three organizations, his climb up the ladder has been steady. He talks about the challenge of Triple-A hitters.
"Guys up here are so smart," Thompson says. "You run into some guys in the lower level of the minor leagues that have ungodly power, crazy bat speed, throw a thousand miles an hour. But the guys at this level and the level above are unbelievably smart, they know exactly what they're looking for. They stay with their approach. From the pitching side, that's the toughest part in getting some of these guys out is you get behind in the count and you know their approach, but you may or may not have to throw into their approach to get them out. So it's tough kind of combating some of those things."
Thompson is knocking on the door of the Major Leagues, but he says his focus is on the here and now in Allentown.
"I got told a long time ago," Thompson says, "I think when I was either 18 or 19-years old by an older guy, 'You've always got to pitch where your feet are.' Right now, Lehigh Valley Iron Pig, and concentrating (on) my next start here. That's one of the better things I think I've ever been told. That's kind of what I stick by."
