Justin Thompson was a left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for several years. He was born on March 8, 1973, in San Antonio, Texas, and attended high school in Oklahoma. After graduating, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1991 MLB draft.
Thompson made his MLB debut in 1996 and quickly established himself as a promising young pitcher. He had a strong rookie season, finishing with a 3.02 ERA and 8-4 record in 15 starts. He followed that up with an even better season in 1997, going 15-11 with a 3.02 ERA and earning his first All-Star selection.
Unfortunately, injuries began to take their toll on Thompson's career. He missed most of the 1998 season with a shoulder injury and struggled to regain his form in the years that followed. He bounced around several teams, including the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics, but was never able to recapture the success he had early in his career.
Thompson retired from baseball in 2005 with a career record of 51-64 and a 4.94 ERA. Despite his struggles later in his career, he will always be remembered as a promising young pitcher who showed flashes of brilliance during his time in the majors.
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