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David Thompson’s first word, circa summer of 1994: “Ball.”
“Not mama. Not dada,” said Jenn Thompson, his mother. “He didn’t like trucks, didn’t like books. He wanted a ball in his hand — always.”
If he just would have been kind enough to specify “football” or “baseball,” maybe the little guy could have made it easier on himself in the long run. Then again, Thompson, now 18 and a 6-1, 205-pound senior with a 4.2 grade-point average at Miami Westminster Christian, never much cared about “easy.”
The deeper the center-field fence, the more enticing. The thicker the blitz, the more exhilarating.
Thompson, who signed a letter of intent Feb. 1 to play football at Miami as the Hurricanes’ fifth scholarship quarterback, already has the state’s career and single-season home run records — and will also play UM baseball. That is, if he actually makes it to Coral Gables after Major League Baseball’s amateur draft June 4-6.
For the moment, the lifelong Hurricanes fan and his parents insist his future points to college.
“Being a Miami Hurricane is the only thing set in stone, and that’s what I’m planning to do,’’ Thompson said. “I’ll arrive at UM on May 16 for Summer Session I.”
Thompson’s dad, Ed, the grandson of a former missionary in Cuba and the son of a man who started a ministry for Latin American pastors to get bible training, said he and his wife feel likewise.
“That would certainly be his mother’s and my wish,” said Ed Thompson, who took over his late father’s ministry. “Dave will have to make his own decision, but we just think there’s plenty of time to grow up, and these types of opportunities don’t come around that often.”
Baseball America ranks Thompson, a third baseman who also could play outfield, as the No. 69 high school draft prospect. He projects to be drafted in the first five rounds, though he could go lower, especially if teams are convinced he’ll choose college.
“When scouts look for a third-base prospect, they want a guy who has power and a strong arm,” said Baseball America assistant editor Conor Glassey, who watched Thompson compete last summer. “Thompson has both.”
UM baseball coach Jim Morris said he believes strongly that Thompson will arrive in May. A new collective bargaining agreement in Major League Baseball will make it tougher for teams to purposely draft players lower than they might normally go, then offer them huge signing bonuses.
‘MATURE FOR HIS AGE’
“He’s got a game plan, and I think he’ll follow it,” Morris said this week, just minutes after speaking to UM football coach Al Golden about the partnership. “He’s very mature for his age, has a great family and seems to have good direction.”
Added Morris: “David Thompson can hit. And when a guy can hit, you find a place for him.”
Thompson can throw, too. The two-time defending Miami Herald Class 4A-1A Boys’ Athlete of the Year, Thompson has significant arm strength and accuracy. He completed 132 of 203 attempts last season for 2,055 yards and 20 touchdowns, with five interceptions — and ran for 382 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Thompson ranks third in Miami-Dade County in career yardage (passing and rushing) with 8,301.
His baseball résumé is considered even more impressive. Thompson is the state’s career home run record holder, with 47, surpassing Prince Fielder’s 42. The third baseman likely will add to that record in his upcoming senior season, which begins next week.
Last year, Thompson hit .553, with 18 home runs and 50 RBI, then played on national TV at Wrigley Field as an Under-Armour All-American. As a sophomore, he led Westminster to its second consecutive Class 2A state championship, and in doing so, became the county’s all-time home-run king with 19 — tied with Miramar Florida Bible’s Frankie Figueroa (1996), Merritt Island’s Tommy Parrott (1999) and Tampa Catholic’s Donnie Scott (1978).
The last UM quarterback to also play baseball was pitcher T.J. Prunty, who quit football after his redshirt freshman season in 2000 to concentrate solely on baseball. He was drafted in the 21st round in 2002 by the Minnesota Twins but never made it to the majors.
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, also a former Westminster Christian quarterback, spurned UM at the last second to enter pro ball but later gave $3.4 million to renovate Mark Light Field, now known as Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Morris described the potential situation for Thompson as “very simple. In the fall he’ll be all football, and in the spring he’ll be all baseball. You have to be a unique athlete to overcome that on both sides.”
BATTING PRACTICE
Most believe that Thompson’s future lies in baseball. His mother said she spent countless hours pitching David “thousands of golf-sized whiffle balls and garbanzo beans” for him to hit with a stickball bat to improve his hand-eye coordination. “I have been pelted with chick peas.”
Thompson, who has gone on mission trips to Bolivia and Cuba, is extremely religious. And, yes, at least locally, he has been compared to Tim Tebow.
“I take that as a great compliment,” he said, “but I have a long way to go.”
Said Thompson’s closest friend, former Westminster receiver Danny Reyes: “David is honestly the best kid I know. The things I’ve seen him do out of the kindness of his heart is incredible. He doesn’t fit the social prototype of a jock. He’s friends with all kinds of kids. I’ve never heard him say a cuss word, and in high school, that’s tough to find.”
Thompson hopes to wear his high school No. 8 next season in football, the number vacated by receiver Tommy Streeter. In baseball, infielder Michael Broad, who could go in the draft after this season, wears No. 8.
“I know it’s going to be super tough to play both sports, the biggest challenge I’ve had in my life,” Thompson said. “But Coach Golden and Morris are amazing coaches, and they’re already working things out. I want to play for both of them. It’s awesome they’re both on my side trying to make it a great experience.”
“Not mama. Not dada,” said Jenn Thompson, his mother. “He didn’t like trucks, didn’t like books. He wanted a ball in his hand — always.”
If he just would have been kind enough to specify “football” or “baseball,” maybe the little guy could have made it easier on himself in the long run. Then again, Thompson, now 18 and a 6-1, 205-pound senior with a 4.2 grade-point average at Miami Westminster Christian, never much cared about “easy.”
The deeper the center-field fence, the more enticing. The thicker the blitz, the more exhilarating.
Thompson, who signed a letter of intent Feb. 1 to play football at Miami as the Hurricanes’ fifth scholarship quarterback, already has the state’s career and single-season home run records — and will also play UM baseball. That is, if he actually makes it to Coral Gables after Major League Baseball’s amateur draft June 4-6.
For the moment, the lifelong Hurricanes fan and his parents insist his future points to college.
“Being a Miami Hurricane is the only thing set in stone, and that’s what I’m planning to do,’’ Thompson said. “I’ll arrive at UM on May 16 for Summer Session I.”
Thompson’s dad, Ed, the grandson of a former missionary in Cuba and the son of a man who started a ministry for Latin American pastors to get bible training, said he and his wife feel likewise.
“That would certainly be his mother’s and my wish,” said Ed Thompson, who took over his late father’s ministry. “Dave will have to make his own decision, but we just think there’s plenty of time to grow up, and these types of opportunities don’t come around that often.”
Baseball America ranks Thompson, a third baseman who also could play outfield, as the No. 69 high school draft prospect. He projects to be drafted in the first five rounds, though he could go lower, especially if teams are convinced he’ll choose college.
“When scouts look for a third-base prospect, they want a guy who has power and a strong arm,” said Baseball America assistant editor Conor Glassey, who watched Thompson compete last summer. “Thompson has both.”
UM baseball coach Jim Morris said he believes strongly that Thompson will arrive in May. A new collective bargaining agreement in Major League Baseball will make it tougher for teams to purposely draft players lower than they might normally go, then offer them huge signing bonuses.
‘MATURE FOR HIS AGE’
“He’s got a game plan, and I think he’ll follow it,” Morris said this week, just minutes after speaking to UM football coach Al Golden about the partnership. “He’s very mature for his age, has a great family and seems to have good direction.”
Added Morris: “David Thompson can hit. And when a guy can hit, you find a place for him.”
Thompson can throw, too. The two-time defending Miami Herald Class 4A-1A Boys’ Athlete of the Year, Thompson has significant arm strength and accuracy. He completed 132 of 203 attempts last season for 2,055 yards and 20 touchdowns, with five interceptions — and ran for 382 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Thompson ranks third in Miami-Dade County in career yardage (passing and rushing) with 8,301.
His baseball résumé is considered even more impressive. Thompson is the state’s career home run record holder, with 47, surpassing Prince Fielder’s 42. The third baseman likely will add to that record in his upcoming senior season, which begins next week.
Last year, Thompson hit .553, with 18 home runs and 50 RBI, then played on national TV at Wrigley Field as an Under-Armour All-American. As a sophomore, he led Westminster to its second consecutive Class 2A state championship, and in doing so, became the county’s all-time home-run king with 19 — tied with Miramar Florida Bible’s Frankie Figueroa (1996), Merritt Island’s Tommy Parrott (1999) and Tampa Catholic’s Donnie Scott (1978).
The last UM quarterback to also play baseball was pitcher T.J. Prunty, who quit football after his redshirt freshman season in 2000 to concentrate solely on baseball. He was drafted in the 21st round in 2002 by the Minnesota Twins but never made it to the majors.
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, also a former Westminster Christian quarterback, spurned UM at the last second to enter pro ball but later gave $3.4 million to renovate Mark Light Field, now known as Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Morris described the potential situation for Thompson as “very simple. In the fall he’ll be all football, and in the spring he’ll be all baseball. You have to be a unique athlete to overcome that on both sides.”
BATTING PRACTICE
Most believe that Thompson’s future lies in baseball. His mother said she spent countless hours pitching David “thousands of golf-sized whiffle balls and garbanzo beans” for him to hit with a stickball bat to improve his hand-eye coordination. “I have been pelted with chick peas.”
Thompson, who has gone on mission trips to Bolivia and Cuba, is extremely religious. And, yes, at least locally, he has been compared to Tim Tebow.
“I take that as a great compliment,” he said, “but I have a long way to go.”
Said Thompson’s closest friend, former Westminster receiver Danny Reyes: “David is honestly the best kid I know. The things I’ve seen him do out of the kindness of his heart is incredible. He doesn’t fit the social prototype of a jock. He’s friends with all kinds of kids. I’ve never heard him say a cuss word, and in high school, that’s tough to find.”
Thompson hopes to wear his high school No. 8 next season in football, the number vacated by receiver Tommy Streeter. In baseball, infielder Michael Broad, who could go in the draft after this season, wears No. 8.
“I know it’s going to be super tough to play both sports, the biggest challenge I’ve had in my life,” Thompson said. “But Coach Golden and Morris are amazing coaches, and they’re already working things out. I want to play for both of them. It’s awesome they’re both on my side trying to make it a great experience.”
