Kentucky’s Thompson Named Freshman All-America

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky freshman pitcher Zack Thompson was named to the Perfect Game/Rawlings First-Team Freshman All-America team, it was announced Thursday. 

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound left-hander is the third UK pitcher to be named to a freshman All-America team the past two seasons, joining right-handers Sean Hjelle and Justin Lewis in 2016. Thompson went 8-3 with a 3.45 earned run average this season, starting 13 games among his 20 appearances and earning a save. The Selma, Ind. native pitched 75.2 innings, giving up just 50 hits and striking out 96, as opponents hit just .187 against him.

Thompson’s eight wins are a UK freshman record and tied for the ninth most in program history. The hard-throwing lefty allowed just 5.95 hits per nine innings, the second lowest total in a season in UK history (min. 45 innings pitched). The freshman won six straight decisions from April 12 to June 4, including victories over tournament teams Louisville, Indiana and Xavier. He also earned the win over Indiana in an NCAA Tournament elimination game and started the Super Regional opener at Louisville, his third start against the Cardinals this season.

Thompson struck out a career-high 10 batters against Indiana on May 9 and only once in 20 appearances gave up more than five hits.