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Charlotte Knights

Shaq Thompson Named Home Run Derby Captain

June 29, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release


(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- Shaq Thompson, a 2015 standout rookie linebacker for the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers, is the second of eight celebrity captains named for the 2016 Harris Teeter and Tide+ Triple-A Baseball Home Run Derby presented by Clariant. The event, which kicks off the three-day All-Star celebration at BB&T Ballpark, takes center stage in Uptown Charlotte on Monday, July 11th. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. on July 11th and Thompson, along with seven other celebrity captains, will sign pre-event autographs down on the field.

In all, a total of eight sluggers -- including six Triple-A participants (three from the International League and three from the Pacific Coast League) and two High School Home Run Derby winners (Riley Zayicek of Lake Norman High and Trent Alley of Charlotte Country Day) -- will compete for the 2016 Triple-A Home Run Derby championship belt. Home Run Derby participants and additional celebrity captains will be announced in the coming weeks leading up to the July 11th event. Last week, former NFL cornerback Jason Sehorn was named as the first Home Run Derby Captain.

Thompson, 22, excelled at the University of Washington from 2012 to 2014. As a junior, the Sacramento, CA native won the Paul Hornung Award and was named an All-American. A former three-sport High School star, Thompson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft and played 13 games that year for the GCL Red Sox. Three years later, the Panthers selected Thompson in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the 25th overall pick. In his rookie campaign with the Panthers, Thompson recorded 50 tackles and one sack during the regular season. He also added five tackles in Super Bowl 50.

Tickets for the 2016 Harris Teeter and Tide+ Triple-A Baseball Home Run Derby presented by Clariant, as well as the 2016 All-Star Luncheon and 2016 Sonic Automotive Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game presented by Gildan, are on sale now and available by phone at 704-274-8282, online at CharlotteKnights.com, or in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office. Charlie Manuel and Jim Thome will be inducted into the Charlotte Baseball Roundtable of Honor on July 13th at the All-Star Luncheon, which takes place at the Charlotte Convention Center on July 13th.

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