Background
He was born on February 28, 1987 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
He was born on February 28, 1987 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
He graduated from Second Baptist High School of Houston in 2005.
He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011. While there, he went 8-3 with two saves and 0.84 earned run average in 14 games as a senior, with 133 strikeouts and 35 walks in 66 innings.
He had signed a National Letter of Intent with Texas A&M, but was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft and joined the Florida Marlins organization.
While with the Marlins. Thompson was selected as organizational Pitcher of the Month, Player of the Week, and he represented his club as a member of the South Atlantic League All-Star Team.
The Washington Nationals acquired him at the 2009 trade deadline for first baseman Nick Johnson.
He spent most of his time with the club's Associate of Arts Harrisburg Senators affiliate as a starter.
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Thompson off waivers from the Nationals on December 24, 2010.
On August 24, 2011, Thompson made his major league debut for the Pirates at PNC Park.
During the game, he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, before being relieved in the 2-0 shutout over the Milwaukee Brewers. Following the 2011 season, Thompson played winter ball for the Toros del Este of the LIDOM. Thompson signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins on December 15, 2011.
Between 2012 and 2013, he pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen, totaling 64 appearances. On August 30th, 2014, Thompson was called up and added to the Twins roster.
He pitched in seven games as a reliever, getting six strikeouts and posting an European Research Area of 2.45.
Thompson was originally set to begin the 2015 season with the Rochester Red Wings, but joined the Twins bullpen for Opening Day after newly signed starting pitcher Ervin Santana was suspended by MLB for 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol in the offseason. He has pitched primarily in a middle-relief role in 2015.
While with the Marlins. Thompson was selected as organizational Pitcher of the Month, Player of the Week, and he represented his club as a member of the South Atlantic League All-Star Team.
