| Justin Thompson | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Thompson pitching for theOklahoma RedHawks in 2005 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1973-03-08)March 8, 1973 (age 52) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 27, 1996, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 25, 2005, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 36–43 |
| Earned run average | 4.02 |
| Strikeouts | 428 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Justin Ray Thompson (born March 8, 1973) is an American formerMajor League Baseball pitcher who played for theDetroit Tigers from 1996 to 1999 and theTexas Rangers in 2005.
Thompson was drafted out of high school in the first round of the1991 MLB draft and started his career inDetroit Tigers minor league system. Thompson started his professional career with the rookie-levelBristol Tigers of theAppalachian League in 1991. Thompson moved up toClass A the next year joining theSouth Atlantic League'sFayetteville Generals in 1992. In 1993, Thompson split time in Class A andDouble-A, playing with theLakeland Tigers of theFlorida State League and theEastern League'sLondon Tigers.
Thompson made his major-league debut in 1996. He was selected to theAmerican League (AL)All-Star team in 1997, at the age of 24, during a season in which he won 15 games and finished fifth in the AL with a 3.02ERA. He continued to pitch well in 1998, finishing second in the AL in games started, with 34. Injury problems, however, derailed his 1999 season.
Thompson was traded by the Tigers to theTexas Rangers in an eight-player trade after the 1999 season that involvedJuan González being sent to Detroit. Thompson spent six seasons inMinor League Baseball with the Rangers organization, including a missed 2001 season due to a tornrotator cuff suffered in 2000, before playing in MLB again for two games in 2005. Thompson elected free agency after the 2005 season and subsequently signed a minor-league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers in December 2005. In May 2006, Thompson retired after playing eight games for Milwaukee'sTriple-A affiliate, theNashville Sounds.
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