Daryl Thompson facts for kids

Daryl Marcelus Thompson (born November 2, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher and coach. He currently works as the pitching coach for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. This team plays in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Daryl also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds in 2008 and 2011.

Daryl Thompson's Baseball Journey

Starting in the Minors

Daryl Thompson began his professional baseball career in 2003. He was chosen by the Montreal Expos in the 8th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft. He started playing in the minor leagues. In 2004, he played for the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats. When the Expos team moved and became the Washington Nationals in 2005, Daryl stayed with the Savannah team. He continued to improve his pitching skills.

Joining the Cincinnati Reds

In 2006, Daryl was part of a big trade. The Cincinnati Reds traded three players to the Washington Nationals to get Daryl and four other players. After joining the Reds, Daryl quickly moved up through their minor league teams. He played for the Triple-A Louisville Bats and showed great promise.

In June 2008, Daryl was called up to the Major Leagues by the Reds. This was a big moment for him! He made his first MLB start on June 21, 2008. He pitched well, not allowing any runs in five innings. He also struck out two batters.

Back to the Minors and Return to MLB

After his first taste of the MLB, Daryl spent more time in the minor leagues. He played for the Triple-A Louisville Bats and the Double-A Carolina Mudcats. This helped him gain more experience.

In 2011, Daryl was called back up to the Reds. He pitched in a few games for them that season. After 2011, he continued his career in the minor leagues.

Time with the Minnesota Twins

In 2011, Daryl signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins. He played for their Triple-A team, the Rochester Red Wings. He pitched in nine games for them before moving on.

Finding a Home with the Blue Crabs

After leaving the Twins, Daryl found a new team in 2012. He joined the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. This league is an independent league, meaning it's not directly part of MLB. Daryl quickly became a key player for the Blue Crabs. He had a strong season in 2013, winning 10 games.

Brief Stints Elsewhere

Daryl also played for a short time with other teams. In 2013, he signed with the New York Mets organization. He played for their Triple-A team, the Las Vegas 51s. In 2014 and 2015, he played in the Mexican League for the Guerreros de Oaxaca and the Piratas de Campeche.

Returning to the Blue Crabs (Again!)

Daryl kept returning to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. He played for them multiple times throughout his career. He had many successful seasons with the team. He was known for his consistent pitching.

Player and Coach

In 2019, Daryl took on a new role. He became a player/coach for the Blue Crabs. This meant he was still pitching in games while also helping to coach other pitchers. That year, he had an amazing season! He won 15 games and was named the 2019 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.

He continued this dual role in 2021 and 2022. He had two more fantastic seasons, winning the ALPB Pitcher of the Year award both years. This made him the pitcher with the most Pitcher of the Year awards in the league's history! Daryl continued to play and coach for the Blue Crabs in 2023 and 2024, showing his dedication to the team.