MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Brandt Thompson, Memphis Redbirds

The Cardinal Chronicle
MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Brandt Thompson, Memphis Redbirds
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Brandt Thompson is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Pitcher of the Day after giving Memphis six valuable innings in his Triple-A debut Tuesday night.

Thompson entered after Tink Hence served as the opener and worked six innings, allowing three runs on four hits, with two walks and three strikeouts in Memphis’ 6-5 extra-inning loss to Louisville.

The final line was not spotless, but the assignment matters.

This was Thompson’s first appearance at Triple-A, and he came into a game that eventually stretched 11 innings. Memphis needed length. Thompson gave them exactly that. After some early damage, he settled in and retired 11 of 12 hitters during one strong stretch, giving the Redbirds a chance to keep working their way back into the game.

That kind of outing matters in a farm system. Not every Pitcher of the Day performance is going to be seven shutout innings with double-digit strikeouts. Sometimes it is a pitcher stepping into a new level, taking the baseball, absorbing innings, and keeping his club close.

That is what Thompson did.

Yhoiker Fajardo deserves mention after allowing just one run over 4.2 innings in Peoria’s 11-1 win, but Thompson’s six innings in his Triple-A debut stand out.

Old School Take

You find out something about a pitcher when he moves up a level.

Thompson did not have a perfect night, but he did not blink either. He gave Memphis six innings, kept the game within reach, and showed he could handle the moment in his Triple-A debut. That is a good first impression.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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Photo Credit: Brandt Thompson, Missouri State | Missouri State Athletics