{{short description|American baseball player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Mason Thompson |image = Nationals vs. Mets Opening Night - 52031821052 (cropped).jpg |caption = Thompson with the Washington Nationals in 2022 |team = Texas Rangers |number = |position = Pitcher |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|2|20}} |birth_place = Round Rock, Texas, U.S. |bats = Right |throws = Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = June 22 |debutyear = 2021 |debutteam = San Diego Padres |statleague = MLB |statyear = 2025 season |stat1label = Win–loss record |stat1value = 7–9 |stat2label = Earned run average |stat2value = 5.21 |stat3label = Strikeouts |stat3value = 93 |teams= * San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2021}}) * Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2023}}, {{mlby|2025}}) }} '''Mason Lane Thompson''' (born February 20, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals.
==Amateur career== Thompson attended Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas. He underwent Tommy John surgery as a junior, and pitched only one inning as a senior.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=39532.0|title = Follow the Prospects: Mason Thompson, RHP}}</ref> He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the third round, 85th overall, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sdut-padres-draft-mason-thompson-85th-pick-2016jun10-story.html|title=Padres draft Mason Thompson with third-round pick|date=June 10, 2016|website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref> He signed for $1.75 million, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-sign-draft-pick-mason-thompson-c183981812|title = Padres' picks Potts, Lauer, Thompson agree to deals| website=MLB.com }}</ref>
==Professional career== ===San Diego Padres=== Thompson made his professional debut with the Arizona League Padres, tossing 12 innings of 2.25 ERA ball. In 2017, Thompson played for the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, posting a 2-4 record and 4.67 ERA in seven appearances. He returned to Fort Wayne for the 2018 season, pitching to a 6-8 record and 4.94 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 93 innings of work. In 2019, Thompson played for the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, only appearing in seven games due to injury, and recorded an 0-5 record and 7.66 ERA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thomps000mas|title=Mason Thompson Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Thompson did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref> The Padres added him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.<ref name="sandiegouniontribune.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2020-11-20/padres-roster-rule-5-luis-perdomo-mason-thompson-reggie-lawson-tucupita-marcano|title=Padres designate Perdomo for assignment, add three prospects to 40-man roster|date=November 20, 2020|website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref>
On June 20, 2021, Thompson was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/|title=Major League Baseball Transactions|website=Major League Baseball}}</ref> He made his MLB debut on June 22, pitching one-third of an inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and earning a hold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/padres-mason-thompson-big-league-debut-dodgers-injuries-journey-062321|title = Padres pitcher Mason Thompson on making MLB debut, injuries, his journey and more}}</ref>
===Washington Nationals=== On July 30, 2021, Thompson and Jordy Barley were traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Daniel Hudson.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Camerato|first=Jessica|date=July 30, 2021|title=Nats net pair of prospects for Hudson|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-trade-daniel-hudson-to-padres|access-date=July 30, 2021|website=MLB.com|language=en}}</ref> He was activated the next day and made his Nationals debut on August 2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mason-thompson-ready-for-nationals-debut|title = Thompson shows grit in scoreless debut| website=MLB.com }}</ref> In 27 relief appearances, he posted a 4.15 ERA with 21 strikeouts across {{fraction|21|2|3}} innings of work.
On April 10, 2022, Thompson was placed on the injured list due to a biceps injury.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nationals' Mason Thompson: Placed on injured list |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-mason-thompson-placed-on-injured-list/ |access-date=August 1, 2022 |work=CBSSports.com |agency=RotoWire |publisher=CBS Sports |date=April 10, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 10 with biceps tendinitis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nationals' Mason Thompson: Shifts to 60-day IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-mason-thompson-shifts-to-60-day-il/amp/|access-date=February 7, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> He was activated on July 1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nationals' Mason Thompson: Activated from IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-mason-thompson-activated-from-il/|access-date=March 23, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> On September 5, he earned his first major league save by pitching the final three scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 6-0 Nationals win in St. Louis. In 24 games, Thompson recorded a 2.92 ERA with 15 strikeouts and one save. In 2023, Thompson made 51 relief appearances for Washington, registering a 5.50 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 54 innings of work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Can erratic reliever Mason Thompson find consistency at last?|url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/can-erratic-reliever-thompson-find-consistency-at-last|access-date=March 1, 2024|website=masnsports.com|language=en}}</ref>
On February 28, 2024, it was announced that Thompson would require Tommy John surgery, ending his season prematurely.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Washington Nationals Reliever Mason Thompson Set to Undergo Tommy John Surgery|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/injuries/washington-nationals-reliever-mason-thompson-set-to-undergo-tommy-john-surgery|access-date=March 1, 2024|website=si.com|language=en}}</ref> He was activated from the injured list to make his return from surgery on July 5, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nationals Reinstate Mason Thompson From 60-Day IL|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/nationals-reinstate-mason-thompson-from-60-day-il.html|access-date=July 5, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> In 14 appearances for the Nationals, Thompson struggled to an 11.81 ERA and 1-1 record with 11 strikeouts across {{fraction|10|2|3}} innings pitched. On September 23, Thompson was placed on the injured list due to right biceps tendinitis, ending his season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |date=September 23, 2025 |title=Nationals Place MacKenzie Gore On Injured List |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/nationals-place-mackenzie-gore-on-injured-list.html |access-date=2026-01-01 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref> On October 29, Thompson was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Rochester; he subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/nationals-outright-four-players.html|title=Nationals Outright Four Players|first=Darragh|last=McDonald|date=October 29, 2025|accessdate=October 25, 2025}}</ref>
===Texas Rangers=== On February 3, 2026, Thompson signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rangers, Mason Thompson Agree To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/02/rangers-sign-mason-thompson-reliever-nationals.html|access-date=February 4, 2026|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=666168|espn=4705678|br=t/thompma02|fangraphs=21850|brm=thomps000mas|retro=T/Pthomm005}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Mason}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Arizona League Padres players Category:Baseball players from Travis County, Texas Category:El Paso Chihuahuas players Category:Florida Complex League Nationals players Category:Fort Wayne TinCaps players Category:Harrisburg Senators players Category:Lake Elsinore Storm players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Rochester Red Wings players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:San Diego Padres players Category:Sportspeople from Round Rock, Texas Category:Washington Nationals players Category:21st-century American sportsmen