PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Rich Thompson To Rejoin Sounds This Weekend

April 29, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


The Pittsburgh Pirates today reacquired outfielder Rich Thompson from the Kansas City Royals after the Rule Five pick was recently removed from the Royals' 40-man roster, designated for assignment, and cleared waivers.

Thompson was selected by San Diego (he was then traded to the Royals) from the Pirates in the Rule Five Draft this past December. In six games with Kansas City this year, he was 0-for-1 with a stolen base and a run scored. Thompson made the Royals' Opening Day roster after batting .244 (11-for-45) with 10 runs scored and three RBI in 26 spring training games.

Thompson has been assigned to Triple-A Nashville and is expected to be added to the Sounds roster on Saturday.

The 24-year-old outfielder spent the second half of the 2003 campaign in a Nashville uniform after being acquired from Toronto in exchange for perfect game hurler John Wasdin.

Thompson stole 48 bases in 55 attempts among three clubs during the 2003 season, led all PCL baserunners with a .880 stolen base percentage (22 of 25), and batted .257 with 11 RBI during his 35 games in a Nashville uniform then went 3-for-12 with a pair of doubles in five postseason contests.

He later put on a show for baseball scouts with his performance in the Arizona Fall League while playing for the Mesa Desert Dogs. He finished the fall campaign with a solid .346 average (36-for-104) and led the league with 13 stolen bases, 28 runs scored, and four triples. Thompson also ranked among AFL leaders in hits (3rd with 36) and average (7th).

Thompson was named fastest baserunner and the top "scouts' sleeper pick" as well as the 2nd-best defensive outfielder at the conclusion of the AFL season.

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