Cardinals select Kentucky star Zack Thompson No. 19 overall

With the 19th pick in the 2019 MLB amateur draft, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Zack Thompson, a left-handed pitcher out of Kentucky.

Thompson's draft status was affected by shoulder issues when he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 11th round in 2016. He eventually failed a post-draft physical that year and ended up committing to Kentucky. He's displayed a clean bill of health in 2019 and is thought of as one of the top pitchers in the draft due to his four-pitch mix and strong frame.

This season, Thompson was named to the All-SEC second team and was a second-team Collegiate Baseball All-American. By going 19th overall, he became the highest-drafted pitcher in Kentucky's history.

Bio

Age: 21
Position: LHP
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 225 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
School: Kentucky
Pick value (No. 19): $3,359,000
MLB.com money quote: "As a southpaw with a strong frame and four pitches, Thompson has the ingredients to become a mid-rotation starter. Both his fastball, which sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph with some run and angle, and his low-80s slider are plus pitches at their best."

2019 stats (as of June 3)

(Stats courtesy: UK Athletics)

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