66Rich Thompson is an Australian former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher from Hornsby, New South Wales. He reached MLB with the Los Angeles Angels in 2007, later pitched for the Oakland Athletics, represented Australia in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on a minor-league contract in December 2012. The supplied provider record identifies the same athlete through the matching name, Australian birthplace, relief-pitcher role and Toronto affiliat…
Richard Graeme Thompson was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, and attended St Ives High School in Sydney. He developed as a right-handed relief pitcher and was signed by the Anaheim Angels as an undrafted free agent in 2002 after being identified by scout Grant Weir. Thompson progressed through the Angels’ minor-league system, including a standout 2003 season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels in which he recorded a 0.24 ERA, nine saves and 54 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings. After five seasons in the minors, he received his first major-league call-up when rosters expanded in 2007. Thompson made his MLB debut for the Angels on 1 September 2007 against the Texas Rangers, pitching one inning and striking out two batters. He subsequently became a useful bullpen option for Los Angeles and earned selection to the 2007 Futures Game. Thompson also appeared for Australia at the 2009 World Baseball Classic and was selected for Australia’s 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series touring team. In 2010, he pitched briefly for the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League while continuing his professional career in North America. The Los Angeles Angels designated him for assignment in April 2012, after which the Oakland Athletics claimed him off waivers. He finished that season mainly with Triple-A Sacramento, making 46 relief appearances and posting a 3.34 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 62 innings. The Toronto Blue Jays signed Thompson to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training on 11 December 2012. His playing record subsequently shows him as inactive, with no verified later MLB appearance. MLB records list his date of birth as 1 July 1984; the supplied provider record lists 7 January 1984.
Thompson’s first major professional breakthrough came in 2003 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, where he produced a 0.24 ERA, nine saves and 54 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings. His major-league breakthrough followed in 2007, when the Los Angeles Angels promoted him after five minor-league seasons; he debuted on 1 September 2007.
MLB career: 82 games, 3–4 win-loss record, 4.21 ERA, 104.2 innings, 105 strikeouts and 1.36 WHIP. Verified honours include selection to the 2007 Futures Game, the 2007 Texas League mid-season All-Star team and the 2010 Pacific Coast League mid-season All-Star team. MLB also records 46 Triple-A relief appearances for Sacramento in 2012, with a 3.34 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 62.0 innings.
His defining playing moment was his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Angels on 1 September 2007 against Texas, when he pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. He was also part of Australia’s 2009 World Baseball Classic roster and the Australian touring side selected for the 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series.