Phillies Trade Rich Thompson to Tampa Bay
Thompson, who resides in Tampa in the offseason, will report to the Rays Wednesday for just his second stint in the Major Leagues in his 13-year professional career.
The 6-2, 190 pounder has been a mainstay in the Coca-Cola Park outfield for the IronPigs over the past five seasons. Thompson departs as Lehigh Valley's all-time leader in games played (468), at bats (1657), hits (452), doubles (83), triples (26), runs (243) and stolen bases (134).
This season, the IronPigs outfielder was hitting .307 with 11 RBI and seven stolen bases in 29 games.
But for everything Thompson has done on the field here in Allentown, what made Thompson the most popular player in club history was his work off the field.
The 33-year-old, who was commemorated with his own bobblehead giveaway on his birthday this season, has been as generous with his time in the community as any player in team history. Whether it be a baseball camp, Miracle League game, visit to a pediatric hospital, work at a soup kitchen or something as simple as taking a few extra moments to sign autographs or catch the first pitches before a game, Rich would do everything with a smile.
Thompson appeared in six games with just one at bat with the Royals in 2004.
In return the IronPigs will get Hudson, a 5-11, 175-pound, 25-year-old drafted by Baltimore in the 4th round of the 2008 draft out of out the University of Illinois where he also started at wide receiver for the Illini football team.
Hudson is hitting .291 with eight RBI in 31 games with Triple-A Durham and owns a career .277 average in 420 minor league games with no professional home runs.
Hudson's only Major League experience came last season when he hit .143 (4-for-28) in 14 games with the Orioles.