Sunday, March 26, 2006
Thompson understands role with Yanks
03/13/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees' outfield currently consists of three players making $13 million each, which doesn't leave much room for a prospect such as Kevin Thompson.
Thompson knows this, so he's taking his experience at Spring Training for what it's worth -- a chance to show Joe Torre and the Major League coaching staff what he can contribute to the team.
"I think about it all the time," Thompson said of his future. "I don't know where I'm going to fit in, though, because there are no spots open. I have to just go out, play hard and do my best. Hopefully someone will see something that will open their eyes and I'll get my break."
Thompson, 26, has impressed several people this spring, with his latest splash coming on Monday. Thompson jacked a two-run home run in the Yankees' loss to the Pirates, showing some pop to go along with his quick feet.
In 12 games this spring, Thompson is hitting .400 (10-for-25) with a homer, four RBIs and five runs scored. He was happy to contribute with a long ball on Monday, but trying to go deep is something he has shied away from over the past year or two.
"I quit trying to hit the ball out of the park all the time; I'm just playing my game," Thompson said. "I play with guys like Mitch Jones and Shelly Duncan, and it's their job to hit the ball out of the park. My job is to get on base for those guys. I'm not trying to do too much."
Selected in the 31st round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Thompson has spent six years in the Yankees organization.
He combined to hit .297 with 14 homers, 71 RBIs and 43 stolen bases last year between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus. He led all Yankees Minor Leaguers with 45 doubles and ranked second in steals, representing the organization at the Futures Game during All-Star week in Detroit.
Torre was speaking with Larry Bowa recently, and the third-base coach compared Thompson to veteran center fielder Marquis Grissom, a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner.
"He runs hard, and he looks like he's a player that is going to be in the big leagues," Torre said. "He's going to make himself necessary. He does a lot of good things and he's aggressive in a lot of ways."
"It's always a vote of confidence when people speak highly of you -- it feels good, but you have to take it with a grain of salt," Thompson said. "You can't let your head get too big. I just go out and play hard every day, and hopefully the situation will happen for me."
In addition to opening the coaching staff's eyes, Thompson has taken advantage of the presence of some of the veteran players in camp, chatting with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Bernie Williams about different aspects of the game.
Thompson said that his talks with Sheffield and Williams were particularly helpful, as he discussed hitting with Sheffield and some of the finer points of playing center field with Williams.
"It's been fun," he said. "I've enjoyed talking to some of the big-name guys in the [clubhouse]. It's an experience you can't get anywhere else. I'm glad to be a part of it."
Although Thompson doesn't appear to fit in the Yankees' plans in 2006, he can take solace in the fact that neither Robinson Cano nor Chien-Ming Wang figured into the club's plans in 2005, yet both players made a big impact before the end of last season.
"When guys get called up, you want to see them do well, so that some day, the same opportunity will be there for you," Thompson said. "You always have to feel like you can contribute. I feel like I can, but it's up to them what they want to do. I can't control anything, so I just have to play as hard as I possibly can."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees' outfield currently consists of three players making $13 million each, which doesn't leave much room for a prospect such as Kevin Thompson.
Thompson knows this, so he's taking his experience at Spring Training for what it's worth -- a chance to show Joe Torre and the Major League coaching staff what he can contribute to the team.
"I think about it all the time," Thompson said of his future. "I don't know where I'm going to fit in, though, because there are no spots open. I have to just go out, play hard and do my best. Hopefully someone will see something that will open their eyes and I'll get my break."
Thompson, 26, has impressed several people this spring, with his latest splash coming on Monday. Thompson jacked a two-run home run in the Yankees' loss to the Pirates, showing some pop to go along with his quick feet.
In 12 games this spring, Thompson is hitting .400 (10-for-25) with a homer, four RBIs and five runs scored. He was happy to contribute with a long ball on Monday, but trying to go deep is something he has shied away from over the past year or two.
"I quit trying to hit the ball out of the park all the time; I'm just playing my game," Thompson said. "I play with guys like Mitch Jones and Shelly Duncan, and it's their job to hit the ball out of the park. My job is to get on base for those guys. I'm not trying to do too much."
Selected in the 31st round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Thompson has spent six years in the Yankees organization.
He combined to hit .297 with 14 homers, 71 RBIs and 43 stolen bases last year between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus. He led all Yankees Minor Leaguers with 45 doubles and ranked second in steals, representing the organization at the Futures Game during All-Star week in Detroit.
Torre was speaking with Larry Bowa recently, and the third-base coach compared Thompson to veteran center fielder Marquis Grissom, a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner.
"He runs hard, and he looks like he's a player that is going to be in the big leagues," Torre said. "He's going to make himself necessary. He does a lot of good things and he's aggressive in a lot of ways."
"It's always a vote of confidence when people speak highly of you -- it feels good, but you have to take it with a grain of salt," Thompson said. "You can't let your head get too big. I just go out and play hard every day, and hopefully the situation will happen for me."
In addition to opening the coaching staff's eyes, Thompson has taken advantage of the presence of some of the veteran players in camp, chatting with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Bernie Williams about different aspects of the game.
Thompson said that his talks with Sheffield and Williams were particularly helpful, as he discussed hitting with Sheffield and some of the finer points of playing center field with Williams.
"It's been fun," he said. "I've enjoyed talking to some of the big-name guys in the [clubhouse]. It's an experience you can't get anywhere else. I'm glad to be a part of it."
Although Thompson doesn't appear to fit in the Yankees' plans in 2006, he can take solace in the fact that neither Robinson Cano nor Chien-Ming Wang figured into the club's plans in 2005, yet both players made a big impact before the end of last season.
"When guys get called up, you want to see them do well, so that some day, the same opportunity will be there for you," Thompson said. "You always have to feel like you can contribute. I feel like I can, but it's up to them what they want to do. I can't control anything, so I just have to play as hard as I possibly can."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
