Skip to main content

Exclusive: Pitching prospect Jake Thompson interview excerpts

By
This post originally appeared on PhillyLongDrive.com.

I recently wrote a feature on Phillies righty pitching prospect Jake Thompson, who has been dominant of late with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.


The feature, which can be read over at PhoulBallz.com, includes comments from both Thompson and his pitching coach Dave Lundquist, with both men describing the what has made the difference in helping the 22-year-old standout get on track and become a hot buzz name among the organization's promising future contributors.

Here, I've included some interview excerpts from my time chatting with Jake last week. Read ahead for those exclusive quotes.

J Thompson
Jake Thompson, image- Jay Floyd
-Offering thoughts on what he does between starts to stay sharp and prepare for his next outing...
I’m not a big film guy. You know, unless there’s something specific that I’m trying to find. I don’t watch much film. I’m pretty basic. Obviously, I’ve got to get my running in every day and two to three lifts per week and then a lot of contrast and arm care, treatment stuff like that to stay fresh.

-Speaking about working with Lundquist...
Me and Lundy we work every day. We talk every day. Just making sure everything stays intact and you don’t want to concentrate on one thing too much and another slips away. We just try to keep the entire thing put together.

-I asked Thompson if there's anyone on the IronPigs' roster that he might learn from as a mentor...
I wouldn’t necessarily say a mentor, but all the veterans would have, both position player and pitchers, they’re all open. None of them are guarded or anything like that. I think (James) Russell’s a good guy to talk to. He’s got five or six years in the big leagues. He knows how to get guys out. (Edward) Mujica’s real good. Frank Herrmann is another highly intelligent pitcher, a good guy to talk to when you need something from him.

-Talking about why he doesn't feel snubbed to not be named as an International League All-Star...
For me that’s not what matters to me anyway. Just my personal growth as a pitcher. I’m extremely satisfied with where I’m at, especially just struggling out of the gate like I did and getting to a point where I’m comfortable and finally feeling good.

-Sharing insight on if there was anyone on the big league roster in spring training that he picked up a lot from...
I loved talking with (Jeremy Hellickson) and Charlie (Morton). They’ve had a lot of success and have been up there a while. Both are extremely intelligent and the cool thing for me is that they were extremely open and welcoming and would do anything for you and that’s the kind of people you need in the clubhouse.

Follow me on Twitter for loads of prospect updates and exclusives!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

By
On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from
Post a Comment
Read more

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

By
Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at
1 comment
Read more

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

By
Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi
Post a Comment
Read more