Zachary Ryan Thompson Bio
Zachary Ryan Thompson is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Atlanta Braves. Thompson was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his major league debut with the Marlins in June 2021. He owns a career MLB record of 6 wins and 17 losses with a 4.36 earned run average and 159 strikeouts across his time in the majors.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Ryan Thompson was born on October 23, 1993, in the United States. He grew up showing promise as a baseball player and attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he played college baseball for the Mavericks. His collegiate performance helped him develop into a professional prospect ahead of the 2014 MLB draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Thompson was first noticed by professional scouts when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He chose not to sign with Pittsburgh at that time and continued his development at the University of Texas at Arlington. Three years later, his strong college career paid off when the Chicago White Sox selected him in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed with the White Sox and began his professional career with the rookie-level Great Falls Voyagers.
Zachary Ryan Thompson Career
Minor League Career (2014–2020)
Thompson steadily climbed the minor league ladder after signing with the Chicago White Sox. In 2015 with the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators, he posted a 3-8 record with a 4.44 ERA in 16 appearances. The following season he split time between the High-A Winston-Salem Dash and Kannapolis, recording a combined 9-8 record and 3.77 ERA over 140 and two-thirds innings.
He remained with Winston-Salem for the 2017 season, compiling a 2-7 record with a 5.50 ERA and 73 strikeouts. His breakthrough came in 2018 when he split the season between Double-A Birmingham Barons and Winston-Salem, posting a remarkable 6-1 record with a stellar 1.55 ERA in 43 games. In 2019, Thompson split the year between Triple-A Charlotte Knights and Birmingham, going 5-2 with an 5.23 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 75 and two-thirds innings. The 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling all minor league games, and Thompson elected free agency that November.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2021)
On November 23, 2020, Thompson signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins that included an invitation to spring training. He reported to Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to begin the 2021 season. His strong performances earned him a spot on the 40-man roster, and he was promoted to the majors on June 5, 2021. Thompson made his MLB debut on June 7 as the starting pitcher against the Boston Red Sox, taking the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in three innings. He recorded his first major league strikeout against Kiké Hernández. Thompson appeared in 26 games with 14 starts for Miami during his rookie year, compiling a 3-7 record and 3.24 ERA with 66 strikeouts over 75 innings of work.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2022)
On November 29, 2021, the Marlins traded Thompson along with Connor Scott and Kyle Nicolas to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for catcher Jacob Stallings. Thompson became a regular part of Pittsburgh’s rotation during the 2022 season. He made 29 appearances with 22 starts, posting a 3-10 record and 5.18 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 121 and two-thirds innings. His win-loss record reflected the challenges of pitching for a rebuilding team. On January 5, 2023, the Pirates designated Thompson for assignment after signing veteran Rich Hill.
Toronto Blue Jays and Recovery (2023–2024)
On January 10, 2023, Thompson was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Chavez Young. He was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the season. Thompson struggled in 11 starts for Buffalo, going 2-4 with a 6.89 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 47 innings. He was designated for assignment by Toronto in June and cleared waivers, being sent outright to Buffalo. Following the 2023 season, Thompson underwent surgery to repair a partial flexor tear in his elbow in October. The injury caused him to miss the entire 2024 campaign as he focused on his rehabilitation and recovery.
Atlanta Braves (2025)
On October 19, 2024, Thompson signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves in hopes of restarting his career. He worked his way back from elbow surgery during spring training. On April 1, 2025, the Braves selected Thompson’s contract, adding him to their active roster. He made two scoreless appearances for Atlanta, striking out three batters over 3 and two-thirds innings. On April 28, the Braves designated Thompson for assignment. He cleared waivers and rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, choosing free agency instead. He re-signed with Atlanta on a minor league contract the following day. In 17 appearances split between Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus Clingstones, Thompson struggled to a 2-4 record and 6.57 ERA with 29 strikeouts and one save over 37 innings. The Braves released him on August 18, 2025, making him a free agent once again.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson has served primarily as both a starter and reliever throughout his career, showing versatility in different roles. His ability to work multiple innings and handle various situations has been a notable aspect of his pitching profile. He has shown the capacity to miss bats, as evidenced by his career strikeout totals relative to his innings pitched.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thompson’s MLB debut on June 7, 2021, against the Boston Red Sox marked his arrival as a major league pitcher. His first career strikeout against Kiké Hernández became a memorable moment from that debut. The 2018 season stands out as his strongest minor league campaign, when he posted a remarkable 1.55 ERA while going 6-1 between Birmingham and Winston-Salem. His recovery from elbow surgery in 2023 and subsequent return to MLB in 2025 demonstrated his resilience through adversity.
Zachary Ryan Thompson Career Wins
Thompson has compiled a 6-17 record across his MLB career with the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Atlanta Braves. His rookie season in 2021 represented his most successful stretch at the major league level, as he posted a 3.24 ERA with Miami. He has recorded 159 career strikeouts in the majors.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Thompson’s best MLB season came in 2021 with the Miami Marlins, where he went 3-7 with a 3.24 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 75 innings across 26 appearances. His debut season showed promise as he earned a spot in the rotation and contributed both as a starter and reliever. His time with the Pirates in 2022 saw increased workload with 22 starts, though the results were more challenging with a 3-10 record and 5.18 ERA.
Minor League Achievements
Before reaching the majors, Thompson demonstrated strong potential in the minor leagues. His 2018 season with Birmingham Barons and Winston-Salem Dash was exceptional, as he went a combined 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA in 43 games. He also showed solid results in 2016 with a 9-8 record and 3.77 ERA across two levels. His 2019 campaign with Charlotte and Birmingham included a 5-2 record and 84 strikeouts in under 76 innings.
| Series | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (Career) | 6 | 17 | 4.36 | 159 |
| Miami Marlins (2021) | 3 | 7 | 3.24 | 66 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates (2022) | 3 | 10 | 5.18 | 90 |
Zachary Ryan Thompson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Not applicable for this section as family background and racing lineage information is not relevant to this athlete.
Personal Life
Thompson married his wife Ashlyn in December 2017. The couple has one daughter together. Thompson has maintained a relatively private personal life away from the baseball field, focusing on his family and career during his time in professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented Thompson’s return to professional baseball after missing the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from elbow surgery. He signed with the Atlanta Braves organization in October 2024 and worked his way back to MLB during spring training. The Braves selected his contract on April 1, adding him to their active roster. Thompson made two scoreless appearances before being designated for assignment later that month. After rejecting an outright assignment to the minors, he re-signed with Atlanta on a minor league deal and spent most of the season at the Triple-A and Double-A levels. His performance in the minor leagues did not meet expectations as he struggled to a 6.57 ERA across 37 innings. The Braves released him in August, ending his tenure with the organization. Thompson now faces the task of finding another opportunity to continue his professional career as he works to prove he has recovered fully from his elbow surgery.