John Thomson (baseball)

Last updated

23 innings with 7 strikeouts and 4 walks in a 3–1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. He earned his first major league win in a complete game against the Florida Marlins June 1. He remained in the Rockies starting rotation for the rest of 1997, posting seven wins and nine losses with a 4.71 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 16613innings pitched.

Thomson made 26 starts for the Rockies in 1998 and led their starting pitchers with a 4.81 ERA. He missed a month of the season with a blister on his right middle finger that would become a recurring problem for him over the ensuing years.

The 1999 season was a poor one for Thomson. After six appearances (five starts), he was 0–5 with an 11.84 ERA and the Rockies sent him down to triple-A Colorado Springs where he didn't fare much better (0-2, 9.45 ERA in five starts). He returned to the Rockies August 14 and was credited with his first win since September 8, 1998, but failed to win another game the rest of the season. He finished 1999 at 1–10 with an 8.04 ERA. After the season, it was discovered that Thomson had a torn labrum (another injury that would recur later in his career). He had shoulder surgery October 12 and a second surgery the following day to repair his blister-prone right middle finger. [1] With the exception of four rehabilitation appearances with the Rockies' Arizona Rookie League team and the Portland Rockies of the short-season, single-A Northwest League in August and September, he missed the entire 2000 season.

Thomson began 2001 on the disabled list (DL) as he continued rehabilitation of his surgically repaired shoulder. After five rehabilitation starts at Colorado Springs, he was activated May 12 and made three starts for Colorado before returning to the DL just two weeks later on May 26. This time, he made seven rehabilitation starts for the Sky Sox and returned to the Rockies August 2. He got his first win in more than two years August 19 against Florida. Over his final eight starts, he was 4–0 with a 3.36 ERA and for the season, he was 4–5 with a 4.05 ERA. On the final day of the season, he gave up Rickey Henderson's 3000th hit. [3]

2002 would be Thomson's final season with the Rockies and he returned to his pre-injury form. In his first 11 starts for Colorado, he was 6–3 with a 3.86 ERA. With the Rockies unlikely to compete for a National League playoff spot and Thomson a free agent at the end of the season, he became a target of trade talks as the July 31 non-waiver deadline approached. After his final start for Colorado July 23, he was 7–8 with a 4.88 ERA in 21 starts.

New York Mets

On July 31, 2002, the Rockies and Mets made a trade deadline deal that sent Thomson and outfielder Mark Little to New York for outfielder Jay Payton, relief pitcher Mark Corey and minor league outfielder Robert Stratton. [4] He made nine starts for the Mets, going 2–6 with a 4.31 ERA. For the season, he was 9–14 with a 4.71 ERA in 30 starts.

Texas Rangers

Thomson was granted free agency after the 2002 season and signed with the Texas Rangers January 3, 2003. [5] He was 13–14 with the Rangers in 2003 with a 4.85 ERA in 35 starts and 217 innings pitched, leading the team in most statistical categories.

Atlanta Braves

Thomson was again granted free agency in October 2003 and signed a two-year contract (including a club option for a third year) with the Atlanta Braves December 9. [6] He had his best season as a major leaguer in 2004, posting a career-high 14 wins against only eight losses and a career-best 3.72 ERA. He carried this success over into 2005, going 3–2 with a 3.42 ERA over his first eight starts before a finger injury landed him on the DL May 17. [7] He returned to the Braves August 13, but was unable to consistently regain his early season form and finished 2005 with a 4–6 record and a 4.47 ERA.

In spite of Thomson's injury troubles in 2005, the Braves exercised their option to bring him back for a third season in 2006. [8] He struggled to a 2–6 record and a 4.68 ERA over his first 13 starts and went on the DL with a finger blister following his June 14 start against the Florida Marlins. [9] He returned for two ineffective starts in July and was placed back on the DL—for the seventh time in his career—July 14 with shoulder stiffness. [10] An MRI eventually revealed some fraying of his labrum [11] and he made only one more appearance for the Braves, pitching an inning of relief September 27.

Toronto Blue Jays

Thomson pitching for the Blue Jays in 2007 spring training. John Thomson.jpg
Thomson pitching for the Blue Jays in 2007 spring training.

On January 9, 2007, Thomson signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for a base pay of $500,000 plus up to $4,000,000 in bonuses based on the number of starts he made. [12] The team placed him on the disabled list at the end of spring training with a recurrence of his shoulder injury [13] and released him June 20 before he ever made an appearance with the major league club. [14]

Kansas City Royals

Thomson was signed by Kansas City on June 22, 2007, and replaced the injured Scott Elarton in the Royals' starting rotation. [15] He filed for free agency on November 1, 2007.

Major league and minor league statistics

John Thomson
DSC 0332 John Thomson.jpg
Thomson with the Kansas City Royals
Pitcher
Born: (1973-10-01) October 1, 1973 (age 51)
Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 11, 1997, for the Colorado Rockies
Last MLB appearance
July 1, 2007, for the Kansas City Royals
W L ERA G GS IP H R ER HR BB SO WHIP
Major Leagues62844.692142101,259⅔1,3857296571543667971.39
Minor Leagues43423.90129122655⅔633335284382355401.32

Amateur Golf Career

On August 29, 2015, Thomson was declared champion of the 35th Annual AI Hesch golf tournament, played at the Wellshire Golf Course in Denver. Colorado.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Affeldt</span> American baseball player (born 1979)

Jeremy David Affeldt is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He threw and batted left-handed and played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorge de la Rosa</span> Mexican baseball player (born 1981)

Jorge Alberto de la Rosa Gonzalez is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Downs</span> American baseball player

Scott Jeremy Downs is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago White Sox. He has been a starter, reliever and closer during his baseball career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aníbal Sánchez</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1984)

Aníbal Alejandro Sánchez Jr. is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2006 with the Florida Marlins and also played for the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, and Washington Nationals. On September 6, 2006, in his 13th career Major League start, Sánchez pitched a no-hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Francis</span> Canadian baseball player (born 1981)

Jeffrey William Francis is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays. He is an inductee of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Harang</span> American baseball player (born 1978)

Aaron Michael Harang is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Grilli</span> American baseball player (born 1976)

Jason Michael Grilli is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers. Taken as the fourth overall selection of the 1997 MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants, Grilli was one of the top starting pitcher prospects in all of Minor League Baseball, ranked 54th in 1998 and 44th in 1999. The Giants traded him to the Florida Marlins in 1999, for whom he debuted on May 11, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Stults</span> American baseball player (born 1979)

Eric William Stults is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball, and for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Nippon Professional Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jair Jurrjens</span> Dutch-Curaçaoan baseball player (born 1986)

Jair Francoise Jurrjens is a Dutch-Curaçaoan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, and Colorado Rockies, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions. He pitched for Team Netherlands in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Dunn (baseball)</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1985)

Michael Glen Dunn is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Florida / Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Withrow</span> American baseball player (born 1989)

Christopher Michael Withrow is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Venters</span> American baseball player (born 1985)

Jonathan William Venters is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Oberholtzer</span> American baseball player (born 1989)

Brett Raymond Oberholtzer is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels. He also played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Chinatrust Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arodys Vizcaíno</span> Dominican baseball pitcher (born 1990)

Arodys Vizcaíno is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Bettis</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1989)

Chad Robert Bettis is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies. He made his MLB debut in 2013. Prior to playing professionally, he attended Texas Tech University, where he played college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collin McHugh</span> American baseball player (born 1987)

Collin Alexander McHugh is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 191 pounds (87 kg), he throws and bats right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Foltynewicz</span> American baseball player (born 1991)

Michael Gary Foltynewicz, nicknamed "Folty", is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and Texas Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierce Johnson</span> American baseball player (born 1991)

Pierce William Johnson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies and for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft out of Missouri State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Martin (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

Christopher Riley Martin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wes Parsons</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Arthur Wesley Parsons is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Guardians, and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.

References

  1. 1 2 2007 Toronto Blue Jays Media Guide (PDF). Toronto Blue Jays. March 2007. pp.  pgs. 153–156. ISBN   978-1-894801-08-9 . Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  2. "John Thomson Baseball Statistics". The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on September 2, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  3. "BASEBALL; Henderson: It's an Even 3,000 Hits - The New York Times". The New York Times. October 8, 2001.
  4. Czerwinski, Kevin (July 31, 2002). "Mets bolster staff with two deals". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  5. Sanchez, Jesse (January 3, 2003). "Thomson signs on with Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  6. Bowman, Mark (December 9, 2003). "Thomson agrees to two-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  7. Bodi, Paul (May 19, 2005). "Thomson expected to miss 2–3 months". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  8. Bowman, Mark (November 1, 2005). "Braves pick up option on Thomson". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  9. "Blister lands Thomson on DL; Braves recall Cormier". ESPN.com/The Associated Press. June 16, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  10. Bowman, Mark (July 14, 2006). "Notes: Thomson suffers setback". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  11. Bowman, Mark (August 1, 2006). "Notes: Andruw shrugs off the rumors". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  12. "Blue Jays agree to deals with Thomson, Frasor". ESPN.com/The Associated Press. January 9, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  13. Bastian, Jordan (March 29, 2007). "Notes: Zambrano holds fate in right hand". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  14. Bastian, Jordan (June 20, 2007). "Notes: Offseason trio down to one". MLB.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  15. Kaegel, Dick (June 22, 2007). "Notes: Royals sign righty Thomson". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2007.