Hurler Thompson Sets Southern League Shutout Record
22-year-old Southern League hurler breaks Southern League record; Came within striking distance of both major and minor league single season shutout marks.

 

SEVIERVILLE, TN - 05.14.04 - All good streaks must come to an end. Right-handed pitcher Brad Thompson's record-setting run of 57.1 consecutive shutout innings ended in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's game when West Tennessee broke loose on the seemingly unstoppable hurler.

The streak lasted over two seasons, starting in Peoria in the Midwest League and Palm Beach in the Florida State League at the end of 2003. It continued this year with a 49 inning run in the Southern League with the Smokies.

He fell just short of the one-season record held by Irvin Wilhelm of 59 consecutive shutout innings for the Southern Association's Birmingham Barons 97 years earlier, in 1907. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser holds the Major League record, ironically also pegged at 59, in 1988.

The 22-year-old Thompson runs his ERA down to a freezing 0.18 over eight games and seven starts. The NABPL is researching whether his run constitutes a record from the start of a season. His 2004 record runs to 7-0 after he worked the 6.2 innings that lead to an 11-2 victory over the Diamond Jaxx.

The hurler is a St. Louis Cardinal prospect in his second pro season who seems to be well on his way to advancement in the farm system, and a possible call-up if he continues to show the confidence to know how to hold 'em and fold 'em.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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