The Atlanta Braves have secured right-handed pitcher Zach Thompson on a minor league deal, a move confirmed by Thompson on his personal Instagram. The 31-year-old, who recently celebrated his birthday, is aiming to make a comeback after missing the 2024 season due to surgery to repair a partially torn flexor tendon.
Thompson’s MLB journey began when he was drafted by the White Sox in 2014. He made an impressive debut in 2021 with the Miami Marlins, where he became a versatile pitcher, working as both a starter and a reliever. In his rookie season, Thompson pitched 75 innings with a 3.24 ERA and a solid 3.69 FIP. His performance that season caught the attention of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who acquired him in the trade that sent catcher Jacob Stallings to Miami.
However, Thompson struggled in Pittsburgh in 2022. He posted a 5.18 ERA over 122 1/3 innings, seeing a dip in his strikeout rate and an increase in home runs allowed. The Pirates eventually designated him for assignment, and Thompson was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite spending the 2023 season mostly in Triple-A, where he struggled with a 4.61 ERA over 24 starts, Thompson’s promising talent has earned him another chance to rebuild his career with the Braves.
Now fully recovered from surgery, Thompson will join Atlanta’s organization, hoping to rediscover his form. The Braves have had success in rejuvenating pitchers’ careers, and Thompson could be a valuable asset as a swingman in the bullpen or as rotation depth. With veterans like Max Fried and Charlie Morton potentially departing, the Braves may give Thompson a chance to compete for a bullpen spot in 2025.
Atlanta continues to shore up its roster, looking for undervalued talent, and Thompson could prove to be a low-risk, high-reward addition for the club’s pitching depth.
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