The next A-Rod?

Is David Thompson the next Alex Rodriguez?

A-Rod was named USA Today’s 1993 National Baseball Player of the Year following a storied career as a shortstop at Westminster Christian (Miami, Fla.). The current star of the New York Yankees hit 17 career home runs for the Warriors.

David Thompson, Westminster Christian

Photo courtesy of Abby Thompson

Also a shortstop, Thompson belted 19 round-trippers this year alone, tying the state record, while pacing the Warriors (27-6) to their second consecutive Class 2A and 10th overall state title. Only Key West, with 11, has more Florida baseball crowns than Westminster Christian.

Thompson said the Warriors’ second state title in a row "hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s crazy just thinking about it. I feel like we out-worked everyone (with a young team). It’s always been a goal. We’ve got to keep working and hope we can get another one."

The young superstar said that hitting a state-record 19 home runs this spring "feels real cool," but credits his religious faith for his vast achievements.

Showing maturity beyond his years, Thompson said, "I always heard about Alex Rodriguez. He’s the face of our baseball program. He’s someone I want to be as good as. I’m not going to compare myself to Alex Rodriguez. I’m just working to be as good as I can be."

Besides the great A-Rod’s records, Thompson has two more years to zero in on records by such other Westminster Christian stars as Doug Mientkiewicz, Bill Henderson and Ron Caridad, who had held the school record of 15 homers since 1989. Thompson finished his sophomore year with an outstanding .486 batting average. Besides 19 homers, he hit 10 doubles, two triples and drove in 54 runs.

As a freshman, starting in right field, he batted .427 with 10 homers and eight doubles while driving in 30 runs – despite missing 10 games due to a fractured hip. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder already has 29 career home runs with two more years to add to his exploits.

At the same age, "It’s not even close," according to Lazaro Llanes, who was an assistant coach during the A-Rod era and has followed him for two years while operating Selective Recruiting. He gives the edge to Thompson at this stage, because, "When Alex was a sophomore, his best baseball was ahead of him. He was tall and lanky.

"Are they comparable? No. It’s like comparing a point guard to a center. He’s a great baseball player who happens to be in the same school that Alex was in. I don’t even see David Thompson being a shortstop. He’s played third, shortstop and the outfield.

"What really impresses me the most is his competitiveness. Everything comes easy to him, but he’s not arrogant. You’d expect a kid his age to struggle. I’ve only seen him struggle in one game."

Power advantage

Llanes loves the young superstar’s "instincts. He adjusts well to a situation. He may not look good on the next pitch, next at-bat or in the field, but he will adjust to whatever is thrown at him. I don’t think anybody has figured out yet what his best position is."

Thompson definitely has the power advantage over a young A-Rod. Llanes says his power "is a combination of bat speed with load on his swing."

Thompson’s legend actually started as a 5-year-old just getting his feet wet as a hitter and pitcher. It was, however, a legend of a different sort. His father, Ed Thompson, still shudders at David’s tantrums and his dislike of umpires.

He explained, "He was so competitive. (According to him) He never made an out and the blues (umpires) obviously didn’t know what a strike was. He was a stinker and a bad sport.

"His competitive spirit wouldn’t let up. He would throw himself on the mound and beat his fist on the dirt. We would threaten him that he couldn’t play the next game. Then his coach would say, ‘Oh, no, you’ll hurt our team.’

"His competitiveness was fierce and was driving us crazy. It took a lot of patience and prayer. It really wasn’t until he was 12 that he finally figured it (controlling his emotions) out. He has such expectations of himself and always has been his own worst critic." David says simply, "I just always hated to lose."

Despite his son’s outbursts, Ed Thompson knew that the emotional youngster was destined for something big even at "age 7 or 8. I was hitting him pop flies and hit one with a lot of topspin. It took one hop and hit him in the eye. It knocked him over and his eye puffed up right away.

"The very next day he gets his glove – with his eye still puffed up – and says, ‘C’mon dad, let’s go play.’"

At age 12, he played for a travel team called the Miami Force, which won a 96-team tournament at Cooperstown, N.Y., home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. All he did was belt 10 home runs (three in one game) in nine games. David explained that before age 12, "I always was a leadoff batter and mostly hit singles. I didn’t have much power and always was a year younger (than most of his teammates). It (the home-run spree) was awesome. I loved it. It was a super-fun tournament. Our whole team was hitting home runs left and right."

Ed Thompson believes that football (David also plays basketball) added some special ingredients to his son’s life by "making him tough and it really helped him mature."

Thompson hit 19 homers this year, tying the state record while leading the Warriors to their 10th overall state title.

Photo courtesy of Holly Battle

Westminster Christian football coach Joe Mira said, "He is everything you’d want as an athlete, teammate, brother. He puts God ahead of everything else. I call him the modern-day John Elway (who also played baseball and football in high school). He’s a big, strong kid with good hand-eye coordination."

He has completed 62 percent of his passes while leading the Warriors to a 17-3 record in two years.
Mira added, "He is really smart. You give him a set of instructions and he doesn’t forget it. He has the unique ability to get rid of the ball quickly. We run a spread offense (and we want our quarterbacks) to throw no more than 30 yards. You set up a trash can at 30 yards and he’ll throw it right into the trash can. In the weight room, he’s an absolute animal. He’s probably the best football and baseball player in Miami."

The Warriors’ baseball coach, Emil Castellanos, said, "He is a competitor and he wants to be the best in everything. He can swing the stick and is a leader on our team. A lot of kids are blessed with talent, but I’ve never seen the explosion this kid has (as a hitter). His hands get through the zone (so quickly). At least six of his 19 home runs were over 400 feet. His batting practice sessions are fun to watch – a fireworks show."

Rich Hofman, who was A-Rod’s head coach at Westminster Christian, got his first look at Thompson on Monday and saw him smash two home runs (in the same inning) during a state semifinal victory. Now retired, Hofman called Thompson "a fine-looking athlete with good size. He’s got a real good swing and is definitely a legitimate player. He’s going to be one of the higher sought-after guys in a couple of years. It’s going to be exciting to see what happens in the future.

"His work ethic is similar to A-Rod and he carries his team on his shoulders. He has more power (than Rodriguez)."

Blue Chip Football Recruit

Another similarity is that both have been outstanding quarterbacks for the Warriors’ football team. Last fall Thompson completed 89 of 155 passes for 1,281 yards and 15 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. He also ran 98 times for 595 yards and six touchdowns. In addition, he punted for an excellent 38.6 average.

Larry Blustein, who operates Elite Scouting Services, calls him "the top-rated QB prospect in South Florida for the class of 2012. He’s a tremendous pocket passer and sees the entire field. He’s so far advanced – a very learned kid. Everything he does is at a very high level. Alex Rodriguez was no way near the football player that David Thompson is."

Hofman calls football Thompson’s "trump card." Both Hofman and Llanes predict that next year could be a little rocky for Thompson.

"He won’t get pitched to or put up the same numbers (as a junior)," Llanes said. "But I would take him right now in a heartbeat as a Division I coach, because he’s a gamer." Hofman believes, "He kind of caught people by surprise this year. They are going to pitch around him and he’s got to have patience. I think he’s got the ingredients to do it. He has a chance to get to the high level of college and professional baseball."

Neither Thompson nor Castellanos are worried about next season, because with Thompson batting No. 3, he again will be supported by the same very talented hitters in the Nos. 4-5-6 slots. Castellanos said confidently, "He will be very well protected. It’s going to be tough to pitch around him. He’s a disciplined kid. With the game on the line, that’s who I want to bat."

Thompson assumes he will be more of a marked man as a junior. He promises, "I’m going to work even harder and be more patient at the plate. I’ve got to be loose and have fun. The goal for us is to win championships – nothing about ourselves."

Castellanos isn’t concerned about Thompson’s best position, either. He calls him "a phenomenal third baseman. With his bat, it doesn’t matter. They (the pros) are going to find a spot for him." Thompson pointed out, "I’ve played a bunch of different positions. I don’t care where they put me as long as I’m in the lineup. I feel more comfortable at third base."

He carries a 4.5 GPA and belongs to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He lists math as his favorite subject. Though he has thought very little yet about a college choice, he does have an interest in studying engineering.

Surprisingly, he added, "I never really thought about the pros. I want to play the best I can in high school and get a good college (scholarship). Maybe even play football – that’s been a goal of mine (to play both sports)."

Could Thompson reach A-Rod’s greatness as a senior? Maybe, if he can match Hofman’s vivid picture of his former superstar. He noted, "Alex was one of the few players I ever knew who, the more publicity and pressure, he got better. He was on a mission and nothing was going to stop him. You’ve got to have the mentality for greatness."

Hofman offered an interesting theory to David’s father.

"I told his dad he should be a catcher," Hofman revealed. "He is a little under a 7-second runner (60-yard dash) and never is going to be a burner. He has a pretty good arm and is a leader. It (catching) is a premium, just like a 90-plus (miles per hour) lefthander. Nobody’s going to question his speed. If he could catch, he’d be a top choice (for the Major Leagues)."