Baseball - Mike Thompson Wants To Be Part Of Padres

26 year old Mike Thompson is at Padres’ Spring Training camp trying to ensure to his spot in the 25 man roster. Last season while Thompson was with Triple A Portland, he was called five different times to fill in when the Padres’ rotation was plagued with injuries. This could have been six times but he received a telephone call while he was at the airport getting ready to board the plane asking him not to come.

Thompson is trying very hard to earn his spot. In the team’s intrasquad game, he pitched two scoreless innings and after the 2006 season, he would be hoping that that his pitching would make place for him in the team’s charter flight for the Opening Day.

Padres’ pitching coach Darren Balsley understands what Thompson is going through. He knows that it was not easy for Thompson to make starts for the Padres and then return to playing for Triple A. However, there a few places in the bullpen and Thompson would be vying for them along with other contenders. This is despite the fact that Thompson helped the Padres to four games in 2006.

Thompson could be been a top contender for the opening rotation if the Padres had not signed on Greg Maddux in December 2006 and David Wells in January 2007. However, Thompson thinks that the addition of Maddux and Wells would not help the team’s pitching. He also thinks that he can learn a lot from Maddux and Wells, who are highly experienced MLB players.

One wonders whether Thompson would make it to the 25 man roster on the Opening Day. Only time will tell.