Rich Thompson (pitcher, born 1984)

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Rich Thompson
position=Relief Pitcher
team=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
number=63
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|7|1
debutdate=September 1
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
statyear=2007
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=0-0
stat2label=ERA| stat2value=10.80
stat4label=Strikeouts
stat4value=9
teams=
*Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (by|2007-present)

Richard Graeme "Rich" Thompson (born July 1, 1984 in Hornsby, Australia) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Thompson was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on February 13, by|2002.

In 2004, he was part of the Australian Olympic baseball team, which achieved a Silver Medal at the Athens Olympics.

Thompson had his contract purchased by the Angels' major league club on September 1, by|2007, marking the first time he was on the major league roster. He made his major league debut on that same day against the Texas Rangers

In 2008, Thompson began the season with the Angels after relievers Chris Bootcheck and Scot Shields began the season on the disabled list. However after allowing five earned runs on four hits in his only outing against the Rangers, Thompson was optioned to AAA Salt Lake Bees to make way for Shields. He finished the 2008 season with a 4.05 ERA at Salt Lake in 10 outings, seeing himself fall behind rising stars Jose Arredondo, Kevin Jepsen and Darren O'Day in the Angels organization relief pitching stocks.

ee also

*List of players from Australia in Major League Baseball

External links

* [http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=460366 MLB.com Player Profile]
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/T/Richard-Thompson.shtml The Baseball Cube Player Profile]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/thompri03.shtml Career Stats at Baseball Reference]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=8118 ESPN.com Player Profile]