Kansas Junior Thompson Selected by Oakland Athletics

June 8, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas junior third baseman Tony Thompson has been selected by the Oakland Athletics in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft with the 185th overall pick.

Thompson becomes the first Jayhawk selected in this year’s draft and the highest pick by a Kansas player since Brandon O’Neal was taken in the sixth round by the Anaheim Angels in 2000 (pick No. 170 overall).

Thompson, a junior infielder from Reno, Nev., hit .338 with 10 doubles, six homers and 38 RBIs in 40 games. This came on the heels of an All-American season for Thompson, which saw him hit .389 with 21 homers, 82 RBIs and a .753 slugging percentage as a sophomore. Following the season, Thompson was a unanimous All-America selection by four different publications.

He entered the 2010 season as the favorite to be named Big 12 Player of the year, but suffered a hairline fracture in his right knee during preseason practice and missed the first seven weeks of the regular season.

The Jayhawk standout is currently second in school history with 32 career home runs, and ranks fourth in career slugging percentage (.581) and in the top 15 in career RBIs (138).

As a drafted junior, Thompson can sign a contract with the A’s organization or opt to return to Kansas for his senior season.

The MLB draft continues Tuesday and will wrap up Wednesday evening.