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Expected to move to first base this season after having played most of last season in the outfield or at designated hitter and spending his sophomore year as a reserve second baseman...A front-runner to be in the team's leadoff spot on opening day...Has excellent speed and is a high percentage base stealer...An outstanding contact hitter with occasional power...Excellent defensive player who should give the team a great glove game at first base...Twice played for Connie Mack World Series national championship team Dallas Mustangs...Has played each of the last two summers with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League...Had a big summer in 1998, hitting .292 and ranking second on the club with three home runs.
As a Junior in 1999 - Came on and had his biggest season as yet with the Cardinal...Finished the season with a .281 batting average, three homers, 32 RBI and nine stolen bases in 58 games, including 48 starts...Hit by a pitch seven times...Named to NCAA Regional all-tournament team after hitting a team-high .419 (5-for-12) with a double and an RBI...Had a critical game tying, two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth of comeback win against North Carolina on May 29...Had a key two-RBI double in the fourth inning of game two of the NCAA Super Regional versus USC on June 5 that put the Cardinal ahead to stay in eventual 5-3 victory...Had a career-high 10-game hitting streak from May 1-21, concluding the streak with four straight multiple-hit contests...Blasted first collegiate homer in 7-6 win over Santa Clara on February 14...Was 3-for-4 with two RBI in 9-7 loss at USC on February 28...Texas native had three hits and scored three runs in an 11-8 win over the Longhorns on March 21...Launched game-winning homer in bottom of the ninth inning of 4-3 win over Saint Mary's on May 7...Blasted a grand slam in 14-4 win at UCLA on May 16...Had a huge three-game series versus the Bruins from May 14-16, going 7-for-12 with three doubles, a homer, six runs scored and four RBI...In the NCAA Regional title game versus Nevada on May 30, went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in 7-4 win.
As a Sophomore in 1998 - Reserve second baseman and pinch-hitter played in 25 games, including six starts...Hit .225 with a homer and four RBI...Doubled and scored twice in 7-5 win over Santa Clara on January 24...Made a successful return to his home state of Texas with a game-winning three-RBI pinch-hit triple in the top of the 11th inning of 6-2 win at Texas on February 13.
As a Freshman in 1997 - Appeared in 11 games, including one start (February 25 at Sacramento State)...Was 0-for-9 on the season with two runs scored...Scored a run in 12-7 win over UC Santa Barbara on February 23 and in 18-4 win at Sacramento State on February 25.
High School - 1996 graduate of Lake Highlands High School...All-Texas and all-district selection in baseball and basketball...MVP of school's baseball and basketball squads...Named District Sophomore of the Year during his second season in high school...Member of the National Honor Society...Exchange Club Student of the Month.
Personal - Economics major...Son of Joe and Charlotte Thompson...Father, Joe, played basketball and baseball at Texas A&M.
Thompson's Career Stats Year Avg GP/GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB/SBA 1997 .000 11/1 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/0 1998 .225 25/6 40 9 9 2 1 0 4 7 3 1/1 1999 .281 58/48 203 50 57 14 0 3 32 23 16 9/10 Totals .262 94/55 252 61 66 16 1 3 36 30 19 10/11
Career vs. Pac-10 Team Avg AB H HR RBI Arizona .000 1 0 0 1 Arizona State .267 15 4 0 2 California .273 22 6 0 4 Oregon State .300 10 3 0 1 UCLA .438 16 7 1 4 USC .409 22 9 0 5 Washington .111 9 1 0 0 Washington State .286 7 2 0 0 Totals .314 102 32 1 17
Career NCAA Post-Season Year Avg GP/GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB/SBA 1997 .000 1/0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/0 1999 .258 8/7 31 6 8 3 0 0 7 1 2 2/2 Totals .250 9/7 32 6 8 3 0 0 7 1 2 2/2
Career Game Highs AB - 6, three times, last vs. Cal Poly (5/21/99) R - 3, three times, last at California (4/25/99) H - 3, four times, last vs. Nevada (5/30/99) HR - 1, three times, last at UCLA (5/16/99) RBI - 4, at UCLA (5/16/99) SB - 1, 10 times, last vs. Nevada (5/30/99) Hit Streak - 10 games (5/1/99-5/21/99)