Full Name: Mason Thompson
Age: 23 (February 20, 1998)
Birthplace: Round Rock, TX
Bats/Throws: R/R Ht: 6' 7" Wt: 223
Drafted: 3rd Round in 2016 MLB Draft from Round Rock High School by San Diego - Acquired for RP Daniel Hudson in July, 2021
Thompson enters the Nationals system as the #16 player, #2 RP.
With a brief stint out of the bullpen in 2021, Thompson made his MLB debut for San Diego.
Career Minor League numbers (5 seasons) 67 G (40 GS) 186.0 IP 5.18 ERA 1.41 WHIP 186/84 K/BB
2021 at El Paso (AAA) - 23 G 26.2 IP 5.74 ERA 1.23 WHIP 24/8 K/BB
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thomps000masScouting Report on MLB.com
Scouting Grades/Report (20-80 grading scale)
FASTBALL 60 SLIDER 55 CURVEBALL 50 CHANGEUP 50 CONTROL 50 OVERALL 45
Prior to his San Diego days, Thompson required Tommy John surgery as a junior in high school and pitched just one inning as a senior. But the Padres liked Thompson enough to make him a third-round pick in 2016, taking him 85th overall, then giving him a $1.75 million bonus. Injuries continued to affect Thompson, who missed time early in his pro career with biceps tendinitis, shoulder inflammation and a leg injury after he was hit with a comebacker. But his stuff didn’t get any less electric.
Fully healthy for the first time as a pro, Thompson was a standout during the Padres’ 2020 instructional camp pitching in a relief-only role for the first time. Bigger and stronger after the shutdown, the 6-foot-7 right-hander showcased explosive stuff in an upper-90s fastball and a power slider, missing bats with both. He still has a curveball and changeup at his disposal from his days as a starter, though both secondary offerings are likely to take a back seat in his role. Thompson has a clean delivery despite his injury history, though questions remain about his durability.
The Padres were so impressed with Thompson’s performance during instructional league that they added him to the 40-man roster in November rather than risk exposing him to the Rule 5 Draft. They later gave him his Major League debut in 2021, and the Nationals thought enough of Thompson to make him the main prospect piece in a Deadline deal for Daniel Hudson. Still early in his transition to full relief, Thompson could become an eventual bullpen force down the line in Washington.
