Current Contract
Signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on March 4, 2008.

**40-Man Roster**

2007: $400,000

Became a Cardinal
Selected in the 16th round (164th overall) of the June, 2002 First-Year Player Draft.

2008 Season
The Cardinals keep winning win Thompson pitches, this season, posting a record of 6-3 with a 5.15 ERA after appearing in 26 games, including six spot starts. Thompson was dealing with back pain in the final month of the season, but should be 100% by spring training. Bouncing back and forth from starting to reliever may have taken a toll on the young pitcher as his effectiveness continues to erode, but his attitude remains positive, despite the lack of a define role with the Redbirds. Arbitration-eligible, Thompson will likely return as a swing man, or long term reliever in 2009.

2007 Season
Split the ‘07 season between the bullpen and starter’s role. Made 17 starts for the Cards in ‘07 (6-4, 4.66) and was 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 27 relief appearances. St. Louis won 12 of the 17 games he started.

Career Notes
Thompson began the 2006 season with the Cardinals but was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in early July after having already allowed more base hits and earned runs in 38.1 innings than he did in 55 frames in '05. Initially inserted back into the rotation at Memphis to log more innings, Thompson went 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA, allowing 36 hits in 42.2 innings, before being called back up to the big leagues in August. He was sent back down after just six days, but returned when rosters expanded in September. Overall, Thompson posted a 3.34 ERA in 43 apperances for the Cardinals, allowing 58 hits, striking out 32 and walking 20 in 56.2 innings.

Thompson was used primarily in relief in 2003, but became a starter in 2004 and began the season with 49 consecutive scoreless innings for Double-A Tennessee, not allowing a run until May 19, setting a Southern League record. Dating back to 2003, the scoreless innings mark was at 57-2/3, just 1-1/3 innings shy of Irving "Kaiser" Wilhelm's mark of 59 for Birmingham in 1907. At the end of the streak, he was 7-0 with a 0.18 ERA. He was selected to the Futures Game, but right shoulder tendinitis that put him on the DL from July 2-August 27 prevented him from playing. He also made three starts for Memphis, but ended the season back at Tennessee.

Thompson was moved back to the bullpen prior to the 2005 season. He was called up to St. Louis from Memphis on May 6, and remained in the majors for the rest of the season. He finished the season with a 2.95 ERA in 40 appearances.

Contract Info: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Photo: MLB Photos