PG Draft Spotlight: JD Thompson

Isaiah Burrows

JD Thompson

Position: LHP
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205
Bats/Throws: L/L
Age: 21.4
College: Vanderbilt
Hometown: Rusk, Texas

Frame/Delivery

Physically, Thompson does not jump off the page. He’s a slender build with some good defined mass in what can be described as a “shorter” or “compact” frame but in the grand scheme it doesn’t impede his movement down the slope. He’s an innate athlete with bend. His delivery is unique with a flatter approach from a low launch and release with a high arm angle that contributes to already present deception. It’s a low three-quarter slot that just jumps out of hand with a fuller arm swing that is up at foot strike. Thompson is sound and repeats, that bodes well for his starter ceiling and his unique approach angle will be a major factor for orgs this spring. He’s a good athlete with an easy and repeatable delivery.

Tools/Arsenal

Thompson has arguably one of the most gaudy fastballs in the class. It’s a 91-93 mph offering and gets up to 95 mph. That velocity doesn’t jump until you see the metrics and movement profile he’s equipped with. Last year, the Vertical Approach Angle averaged -4.7 degrees from a low 5-foot-6 release point with an average of 18 inches of IVB and 12 inches of horizontal. That is plus in near every metric from his release, and the numbers go to show. His fastball posted an absurd 37 percent whiff rate and 32 percent chase rate. It plays true and flat up in the zone with carry and can play steep down and away. It’s versatile and a killer 70-grade type offering. He gets misses both in zone and out of zone with it and pounds it arm side, simply hard to find as a pitch to not only get ahead but putting away batters as well. His curveball can project as an average offering at the next level with significant drop in velocity (76-79 mph) with an average of 9 inches of break and 12 inches of run. It’s a bit slurvy but posted a 37 percent whiff rate and plays it short and down in the zone. His changeup is a softer ground ball third pitch that mimics well from release in the low-to-mid-80s but produces more average run in horizontal and spin rate (1420). His 79-82 mph slider also induced a 34 percent chase rate and 35 percent whiff rate, though was used as more backend offering last year. The spin rates are fringe across the board, but his distinct movement profile makes him an enticing starter. He made huge strides amongst a good rotation last year with a gaudy 12.81 strikeout-per-nine ration and he simply misses bats. Thompson can fill it a good bit too and induces chase out of the zone with his spin, while his fastball is simply a deadly weapon. The bat-missing ability makes him a higher end option on boards if he continues his strides.

“The Buzz”

Thompson may just creep his way into Round 1 category and figures to be an early Day 1 to Top 50 selection at this point in time. The ingredients are all very present, and the command made a huge jump in 2024 limiting his walk rate per nine to just 3.12 from 5 in 2023. That’s a huge testament to the gaudy bat-missing stuff he can possess. He may lack a plus secondary at present, but the whiff rates on both his curve and slider can make evaluators quite bullish on if one becomes a true put away offering this spring. The changeup is well in the mix too with its production to induce soft contact. With a heater that plays this well in the zone, Thompson does become subject to hard contact and got hit hard at points last year. He can be susceptible to barrel rates, but that can also be a testament to him simply challenging batters in the zone with his stuff, and coming out with a successful rate 34-plus percent of the time in the swing-and-miss department. If the spin takes a step up, watch out. His ability to limit damage and sustain innings with his frame will be a true calling card to how high he goes this spring. He is a bit slender and may not pack on to a “dream type” starter’s build, but his heat and unique approach angle makes him a name to definitely get familiar with.

Summation

Whenever you can find a “unique” arm slot and release with “power” in the velocity department, orgs generally wrap their arms around them. Thompson fits that mold to a tee with an ability to be a starter near the front of a rotation at the next level. Simply put, that is hard to find. His fastball can project every bit as a 70-grade heater even with its velocity thanks to its distinct approaches and flat carrying ability with command. He can spin it and miss bats while also inducing soft contact with runners on. He can mix and match and compete. He has the makings to be an early selection when it’s all said in July.

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