Thompson (1-1) recorded Wednesday's win over Cincinnati, allowing one hit and striking out one over a scoreless eighth inning.
Thompson, who made an eighth consecutive scoreless appearance, has been the Diamondbacks' best reliever through the first month-and-a-half. The side-arming right-hander sports a 1.00 ERA with just two walks while striking out 13 over 18 innings. He leads the team with six holds.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Takes loss Monday
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Thompson (0-1) was tagged with Monday's loss to the Cardinals, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one over one-plus innings.
Thompson executed a perfect 1-2-3 eighth inning before giving up a leadoff infield single to open the bottom of the ninth. He was replaced by Kyle Nelson for a lefty-on-lefty matchup, but the at-bat lasted one pitch -- Nolan Gorman tattooed a hanging slider for a walk-off, two-run home run. Thompson has pitched well thus far, posting a 1.86 ERA with four holds through 10 outings (eight scoreless). He'll continue to serve in a setup role for Kevin Ginkel for now, and eventually for Paul Sewald (oblique) when he's ready to return.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Makes fifth scoreless appearance
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Thompson allowed a hit and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to Atlanta.
Thompson made his fifth appearance and has yet to give up a run or walk. On a night when the bullpen blew a three-run lead -- including a blown save by fill-in closer Kevin Ginkel -- Thompson's performance stood out. Thompson worked the eighth and ninth innings in his previous appearances this season before entering Friday's game in the sixth.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Could get save chances
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Thompson moves up a spot in the bullpen following the news that closer Paul Sewald (oblique) will open the season on the injured list.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo didn't immediately name any one reliever as a replacement closer, although he did tell Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that there is "a very logical choice." By that, Lovullo was referring to Kevin Ginkel, who is expected to serve as the primary closer while Sewald heals. Lovullo also said he is not going to "anoint anybody to close right now," leaving the door open for others, like Thompson. He was an important late-inning, setup reliever after being traded to the Diamondbacks during the stretch drive in 2023. Thompson recorded a 0.69 ERA over 13 innings in the regular season and was a featured high-leverage option during the postseason. The right-hander continued his fine work this spring, allowing one unearned run over seven innings.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Sets up save
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Thompson allowed one hit while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the White Sox.
Thompson pitched the eighth inning, preserving the lead for Paul Sewald who converted the save. Kevin Ginkel is normally the choice to pitch the eighth inning of close games, but manager Torey Lovullo went another way after Ginkel's most recent outing Monday when he was tagged with the loss. The manager rewarded Thompson, who has been effective since being added to the Diamondbacks' bullpen in late August. The reliever has a 0.75 ERA and 0.50 WHIP over 12 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Notches save in team debut
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Thompson struck out one batter in a perfect inning and earned a save against the Reds on Sunday.
Thompson was promoted from Triple-A Reno on Sunday and was thrown right into a save situation. He posted a 6.11 ERA in 17.2 innings with the Rays this season before being designated for assignment. Scott McGough threw 1.2 innings while Paul Sewald did not appear in Sunday's game.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Moves up to Arizona
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The Diamondbacks selected Thompson's contract from Triple-A Reno on Sunday.
Arizona designated right-hander Nabil Crismatt for assignment to clear room in the bullpen for Thompson, who could make his Diamondbacks debut in Sunday's series finale with the Reds. Before inking a minor-league deal with Arizona earlier this month following his release from Tampa Bay, Thompson had produced a 6.11 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB in 17.2 innings at the big-league level with the Rays this season.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Inks minor-league deal
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Thompson (undisclosed) signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Sunday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Thompson saw some high-leverage work with the Rays between 2021 and 2022 but struggled earlier this year, posting a 6.11 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 17.2 innings over 18 relief appearances. He was on the injured list with an undisclosed issue before being released by Tampa Bay, and it's not yet clear whether he's back to full health.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Bumped off 40-man roster
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The Rays designated Thompson (undisclosed) for assignment Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Before he was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Aug. 2, Thompson had accrued a 6.11 ERA while striking out 12 batters over 17.2 innings in the big leagues this season. His results at Durham (3.26 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 19.1 innings) have been better, but he hasn't pitched for the affiliate since his demotion after being placed on the 7-day injured list Aug. 6. He'll likely stick around at Durham if he goes unclaimed upon being exposed to waivers.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Sent back to Durham
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Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
This move clears out a 26-man roster spot for Aaron Civale, who was acquired from the Guardians on Monday and is expected to make his Rays debut in a start this Saturday against the Tigers. Thompson did not make an appearance during his two-day stint in the Tampa Bay bullpen.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Recalled from Triple-A
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Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Thompson has split time pretty evenly between Triple-A and the majors this season. He has a 3.26 ERA and 61.4 percent groundball rate in 19.1 innings at Triple-A and a 6.11 ERA over 17.2 innings in the big leagues. He should work in low-leverage situations.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Optioned to Triple-A
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Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
One day after being called up, Thompson will return to Durham. He appeared in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Phillies, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out a batter over one inning. In a corresponding move, Elvin Rodriguez had his contract selected from Triple-A.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Returns to majors
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Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays needed six pitchers to get through Wednesday's loss to the Phillies, so they're bringing in Thompson as a fresh bullpen arm. He's posted a 5.94 ERA in 17 appearances with Tampa Bay in 2023.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Optioned to Triple-A
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Thompson was optioned Thursday to Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Pete Fairbanks (hip) is back from the injured list, so Thompson gets the boot. He's struggled to a 5.94 ERA and 11:7 K:BB in 16.2 innings of work this year out of the Rays' bullpen.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Optioned to Triple-A
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Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Thompson will head to Durham after he's surrendered at least one run in four out of his last five appearances. Over that stretch, the right-hander has given up nine runs over five frames, raising his season-long ERA from 1.80 to 6.60. He'll look to recenter himself with Triple-A before being returned to the major-league roster later this season. In a corresponding move, right-hander Cooper Criswell will join the Rays in Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Activated from injured list
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Thompson was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Rays on Friday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Thompson wound up needing only a minimum stay on the injured list due to a strained right lat. Zack Burdi was optioned to clear space on the roster and in the bullpen.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Heads to IL with lat strain
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Thompson was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
There is no public timetable yet, but this is an injury that can sometimes cost pitchers multiple months. Trevor Kelley will replace Thompson in the Rays' bullpen.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Shut down for season
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Thompson (triceps) has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right elbow and will be shut down for the rest of the season, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Thompson has been on the injured list since the end of August due to right triceps inflammation, and he recently experienced discomfort in his elbow while throwing. In spite of his shutdown, he's expected to be ready for spring training in 2023. Over 47 relief appearances in 2022, Thompson converted three of eight save chances while picking up 10 holds with a 3.80 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 42.2 innings.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Heading to restricted list
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Thompson will be placed on the restricted list and won't travel with Tampa Bay for the upcoming five-game series in Toronto, which begins Thursday, due to Canada's vaccination requirement, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Thompson allowed a walk and had two strikeouts over two scoreless innings during Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers, but he won't be available to face the Blue Jays on the road since he's apparently unvaccinated. The 30-year-old will be able to rejoin the team ahead of Monday's game at Boston.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Picks up save
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Thompson did not allow a baserunner and struck out one across a scoreless ninth inning to record the save Sunday against Boston.
Thompson entered the game with a three-run lead and needed 16 pitches to retire the side in order to record his first save of the season. Andrew Kittredge had served as the team's primary closer to this point in the campaign, though he pitched two innings Saturday and was likely unavailable as a result. While Thompson has delivered 6.1 scoreless innings early on this season, he isn't likely to regularly factor into the saves picture for Tampa Bay.
