How Fast Does Zach Thompson Throw?
Zach Thompson throws a fastball at 91-92 mph.
With the trade of Jacob Stallings to the Miami Marlins, the Pittsburgh Pirates made their greatest offseason move. The Pirates got three players in return, including two of the Marlins’ top 30 prospects.
Zach Thompson, who is coming off a breakout rookie season, was also included in the haul. Thompson will be called on straight away by the Pirates, who are in desperate need of pitching help.
Thompson made his MLB debut in June after seven seasons in the minors. In 26 games, he struck out 66 batters and produced a 3.24 ERA, which was a pleasant surprise.
Despite starting the season in the rotation, the Texas native was moved to the bullpen in September.
He continued to shine as a reliever, allowing only five runs in his final 13 outings. The former fifth-round choice was an important part of a pitching staff that struggled to stay healthy.
Thompson was also exceptional with runners on base. The University of Texas at Arlington product kept batters to a.188 average in high-leverage situations.
He was able to reduce the harm when it counted most. Thompson was a difficult pitcher to face because of his excellent fastball, which opponents hit for a.186 average.
In 2021, the 2014 first-round pick threw the fourth-most innings of any Marlins pitcher.