Next in our breakout candidates is a relatively new face, 3rd Baseman David Thompson. Our first prospect in the series was fellow third baseman Jhoan Urena.
Profile:
Before Thompson was a 4th rounder for the Mets, he was an offensive star in the Miami area. As a Westminster Christian Alumni, (Same high school as Alex Rodriguez), he the record for homeruns in a season (19) and career (55) for the entire state of Florida. His 55 beat Prince Fielder‘s previously held record by 13 home runs. He entered into the University of Miami on a football and baseball scholarship but had two surgeries for a torn labrum in his right shoulder. However, he did well, hitting six home runs with a line of .286/.368/.462.
Unfortunately for him the next year he had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which required a surgery to remove a rib, and he was relegated to a very weak 30 games. However, he upped his stock hitting .331/.355/.466 in the wood-bat Cape Cod League with four homers in 42 games.
In his final year, he led the Miami Hurricanes to the College World Series with a country-leading 19 home runs, and a .323/.424/.620 line. Injury concerns only warranted him a 4th round selection.
With the Brooklyn Cyclones, which is often a landing spot for Mets’ top college draft picks, Thompson underwhelmed offensively, hitting .218/.274/.320 with three home runs in 59 games. Due to the shoulder surgeries and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, he no longer has a strong throwing arm and will likely have to move to another position such as first base or left field.
Why he might breakout:
Hey, he broke a Florida home run record set by one of the better hitters of this generation, what’s not to like?
Also, He is a pretty disciplined batter, having more walks than strikeouts in his college career. Plus, I want to see if he can start hitting for better average and hope that this uppercut swing will find a way to bounce and produce some of that awesome power. His likely destination is of one of the Single-A teams, depending on his time in spring training.
Having another possibility in power down on the farm has never been a bad thing.
Ted’s Prospect Extras:
Hitter’s Statistics from the 2015 Draft
Head over to MetsMinors.net for for minor league cover including our St. Lucie Mets 2015 Season Review.
