The Braves signed right-handed pitcher Zach Thompson to a minor league contract earlier this week, according to the transactions tracker on his MLB.com profile page. Thompson confirmed the agreement on his own Instagram account Friday. Thompson, who turned 31 earlier this week, did not sign with a team in 2024 after having surgery in October to repair a partially damaged flexor tendon.
Thompson, a fifth-round choice by the White Sox in the 2014 draft, made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2021. The right-hander had a great debut season, proving to be a key swingman for Miami in his first season with the team. He started 14 out of the 26.
He appeared in games and performed well over 75 innings, having a 3.24 ERA and 3.69 FIP. He struck out 21 percent. The Braves signed right-handed pitcher Zach Thompson to a minor league contract earlier this week, according to the transaction tracker on his MLB.com profile. Thompson confirmed the agreement on his Instagram account on Friday. Thompson, who turned 31 earlier this week, did not sign with a team for 2024 after undergoing surgery in October to repair a partially torn flexor tendon.
Thompson, the White Sox’s fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft, made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2021. The right-hander had a fantastic debut season, proving to be a key swingman for Miami.
This is their first season with the team. He started 14 out of 26. Thompson was then sold to the Blue Jays in a minor trade, however he did not make the team’s roster out of camp and was eventually DFA’d in June. He spent nearly the entire 2023 season as a Triple-A starter for the Jays, posting a 4.61 ERA in 105 1/3 innings of work across 24 starts while striking out just 17.4% of his opponents before having surgery in October and opting for free agency shortly after.
Thompson, who appears to have healed from surgery last year, will seek to reestablish himself as a viable big league option for the Braves. Atlanta has done well in assisting other arms who have struggled elsewhere achieve success with their club, notably 2024 bullpen components Grant Holmes and Jesse Chavez. With Chavez and lefty A.J. Minter both set to hit free agency, Thompson could earn a bullpen job out of camp this spring if the Braves prioritize other areas of the roster, such as the rotation, where Max Fried and Charlie Morton are expected to depart this season.
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