Celebrating Black History Month: Highlighting Kevin Thompson

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers from across the sport went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers. Some were notable for their presence, both on and off the field. And, in a few cases, some had that one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Over the month, we will highlight some of the best Black baseball players to ever suit up for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In the last few years, all players featured have suited up for the Red Barons, SWB Yankees and RailRiders. In the past, we have highlighted greats like In the past, we have featured greats like Marlon Anderson, Ryan Howard, Aaron Judge, Wendell Magee and Jimmy Rollins.

In 2024, we focused on Tony Barron, DJ Mitchell and Floyd Rayford, Austin Jackson, Kevin Jordan and Billy McMillon, Lou Collier, Jamie Westbrook and Mason Williams as well as Chris Dickson, Tony Longmire and Thomas Neal.

This month, we have reminisced about Hall-of-Famer Leon Day, Zelous Wheeler and Chuck McElroy.

Kevin Thompson

Thompson was originally selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft but opted to attend Greyson College instead. The Yankees picked the outfielder in the 31st round of the 1999 Amateur Draft and he began his pro career the following summer. He reached Triple-A with Columbus in 2005; the year he was named as the Yankees’ Kevin Lawn Award winner as their Minor League Player of the Year. He returned to Ohio’s capital in 2006. In addition to 91 games with the Clippers in ‘06, Thompson made his MLB debut for New York on June 3, collecting a single in his second at-bat off Baltimore’s Chris Britton.

In 2007, as the Yankees affiliation moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, so did Thompson. He was, in fact, the first SWB Yankee to bat at PNC Field on April 5, 2007. He was also the first player in the new affiliation to walk, steal a base and score a run.

Over that year, Thompson played 77 games for the SWB Yankees, hitting .281 with the majority of his at-bats coming from the leadoff spot for skipper Dave Miley. He hit five home runs, walked 42 times and stole 24 bases.

Thompson also appeared in 13 games for New York in 2007 and was designated for assignment in September. He closed the year with the Oakland A’s.

After spending 2008 with Indianapolis and five games in 2009 with Oklahoma City, Thompson shifted to independent baseball until his playing days came to an end after the 2011 season. During his affiliated Minor League Baseball days, he hit .275 over parts of 10 seasons.