Jake Thompson

Thompson got off to a slow start at Triple-A last season with a 4.23 ERA over the first two months. A mechanical adjustment to his delivery helped improve his secondary pitches and led to a 1.21 ERA in June and July. That earned Thompson a promotion to the majors in August when Aaron Nola went on the disabled list. He struggled overall, but turned things around in his final start in August and posted a 3.41 ERA over his last six starts, though he was still having command issues as evidenced by his 19:15 K:BB over his last 34.1 innings. The Phillies shut Thompson down in late September after he reached his innings cap. He works in the low-90s with his fastball and complements that with a changeup, slider and curveball. The lack of strikeouts caps Thompson's upside, and his high walk rate in the majors indicates he still needs some refinement of his arsenal. He will get a chance to compete for a rotation spot this spring.

The Phillies acquired Thompson from the Rangers as part of the deal that sent Cole Hamels to Texas last season. He has the profile of the prototypical right-handed power pitcher, but has yet to see his velocity reach the level that will allow him to reach that lofty ceiling. For now, Thompson works in the low-90s, topping out at 94 mph. He also has a nasty slider and an improving curveball and changeup. Thompson had a 3.74 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 ratio and 2.9 BB/9 ratio combined between Double-A Frisco and Double-A Reading last season. His strikeout rate has continued to decline as he has moved up the ladder, giving him the profile of a mid-rotation starter rather than an ace. He could open next season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will likely see time in Philly at some point during the regular season.

Thompson is not an elite pitching prospect, but he was one of the most advanced 20-year-old arms in the minors last season, and is a very good bet to make it in a big league rotation. With a big 6-foot-4, 235 pound frame, Thompson can handle a starter’s workload and then some. He also features a four-pitch mix highlighted by a low-90s fastball and a slider that works as a true putaway pitch. Thompson put up a 3.14 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and a 79:25 K:BB ratio in 83 innings at High-A Lakeland and was rewarded with a promotion to Double-A Erie, where he pitched just 11 innings before getting traded him to Texas in July in the Joakim Soria deal. The big righty finished the season strong, striking out 44 with a 3.28 ERA in 35.2 innings at Double-A Frisco. The Rangers have some serious question marks in the back half of the rotation heading into 2015, and Thompson could be ready to contribute this summer.

With Nick Castellanos set to move up to Detroit on a permanent basis, Thompson will make his case to become the Tigers’ top overall prospect. The 2012 second-round pick saw his first action above rookie ball last season, going 3-3 with a 3.13 ERA and 91:32 K:BB ratio in 83.1 innings with Low-A West Michigan. The big (6-foot-4, 232-pound) righty features a fastball, slider, changeup, and he has been developing a curveball. His fastball usually sits in the low-90s, but good movement and the possibility of added velocity has the heater graded out as a potential plus-pitch once he reaches the majors. Thompson’s slider is already effective with good break, and it could develop into his best pitch, but his changeup and curveball still need work. The Tigers are currently loaded with starting pitching, which has afforded the team patience with Thompson. The 20-year-old should start progressing his way through the Tigers’ system in 2014, but he is not expected to become a legitimate option at the major league level until 2016.