Jake Thompson seeks shorter route to bigs

Former Siuslaw star pitcher Jake Thompson is now looking at a possible shorter route to the major leagues as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

After 33 starts in 33 games as a professional, Thompson is in the bullpen as he prepares for the Salem (Va.) Red Sox season opener Thursday at Wilmington, Del.

"The Red Sox met with him a spring training and told him they thought he'd move up faster and have a better chance of making it coming out of the bullpen," his father, Coast Radio general manager Jon Thompson, said.

"Which of course is what they've been saying since draft day."

Jake Thompson is taking the ball and running with it.

"He has embraced it and really feels like he will be moving up to Double A this year," Jon Thompson said. "We're holding off scheduling a trip to see how things go early in the season.

"He did get some time in the bigs in spring training and thought that was pretty cool. He was in the mid 90s late in spring training, and feels he just needs to sharpen his slider to be really effective out of the pen."

Thompson was 5-13 with a 5.30 earned run average in 26 starts last season at Salem. He struck out 96 in 125 2-3 innings.

The former Oregon State all-American turns 25 on Sept. 22. He was a fourth-round pick by the Red Sox in the June 2017 draft.