Thompson, Braves still working on deal

By Jay Jenkins

Published: July 16, 2008

Jacob Thompson was huffing and puffing Wednesday afternoon, trying desperately to catch his breath.

No, the talented right-handed pitcher was not walking away from a lengthy workout in Danville, his hometown.

The day brought Thompson a dose of manual labor outside in the yard with his father.

Thus far this summer the University of Virginia hurler has had to earn his keep, and it remains unclear when or if that will change.

In June, the Atlanta Braves selected Thompson in the fifth round, much lower than expected, with the 160th pick overall.

For now, Virginia’s all-time wins leader is waiting on a suitable offer from the organization to forgo his final year of eligibility as a Cavalier.

“I have just been trying to keep myself busy with working out and hanging out with my friends and family,” Thompson said. “At times I have been very impatient and frustrated with it, but ultimately it is going to work out for the best.

“Whether I sign or go back to school, it will work out for the best.”

Thompson would not discuss the specifics of his demands, but a source with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed that the asking price exceeds well over slot money. The player selected one spot ahead of Thompson, high school standout Maverick Lasker, landed a signing bonus of $175,000, and East Carolina pitcher Justin Bristow, a Richmond native, inked a deal worth $170,000 after being selected right after Thompson.

At this point, Thompson is one of just nine fifth-round picks that remain unsigned, a group that also includes Virginia shortstop Greg Miclat.

There is a possibility — albeit remote at this point — that activity heats up this weekend.

Thompson is scheduled to travel to Atlanta to pitch in front of members of the Braves’ organization.

“I am supposed to throw a bullpen for them Saturday,” he said. “It is supposed to be real low key, and I don’t think any negotiation talks will be made down there.

“I am just hoping me going down there will get the wheels turning a little bit.”

Thompson, who went 6-4 with a 4.30 ERA this season, has enjoyed the luxury this summer of having his own personal catcher living under the same roof — his brother, Justin, who is headed to UVa in the fall is a catcher and a pitcher.

It has helped Thompson remain as sharp as possible.

“It has been funny. Me and my dad and my brother throw about two or three times a week, and I have been going to the local gym, working out and running,” Thompson said. “I am trying to stay in the best shape that I can. I can’t really put on a lot of weight because that comes with time and lifting a lot of weights and I haven’t really been doing that.”

While Thompson has met and stays in contact with Virginia coach Brian O’Connor, he has not sought out the advice of former teammates that either signed after their junior seasons or stayed for their final year of eligibility.

“I have mainly relied on my advisor and I tell you, everyone’s situation is different,” he admitted. “It is good to talk to other people, but this is my decision and I am going to make it.

“No former player or anyone is going to make it for me. It is my decision.”

Miclat, who was selected by the Baltimore Orioles 146th overall, will likely see his negotiations drag out until near the deadline on Aug. 15.

There is a good reason.

While playing for the Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League, the speedster fractured the tip of a finger on his throwing hand.

“I am out of the Cape now since I am out for four weeks,” Miclat said. “It was on a groundball in batting practice and the ball just hit it. It wasn’t like a bad hop or anything … I think I just got my top hand in there too soon.

“It just hit it perfect. I looked down and it was beat up pretty good.”

Before the Cape Cod season-ending injury, Miclat was hitting .325 with seven stolen bases in just 11 games.

Miclat, who was in Los Angeles on Wednesday to watch the ESPYs, said “the ball in their court” in regards to the negotiations with the Orioles. Due to his lofty signing demands, which are twice as much as the slot money, Miclat is unsure of how it will evolve.

“For however long I was in the Cape helped, but right now I think something is going to happen in August,” Miclat said. “We are still a ways away but my advisor is still optimistic about it because of how everything has happened — where I was drafted and with the Orioles knowing what I wanted.

“It is just a matter of being so much over the slot that it going to be a late sign. Not many have signed above slot, period, as far as the whole draft. That’s just how it is going to work.”

All-star honors

As his coach spouted out the names, Corey Hunt, a former Monticello star, expected to be left out.

Landing a spot in the All-Star game in the New England Collegiate Baseball League seemed like a farfetched idea with scores of talented third basemen to pick from.

Hunt, a redshirt sophomore at UVa, was pleasantly surprised. After hitting .312 in 22 games for the Sanford Mainers, Hunt was named a reserve for Northern Division squad for a contest slated to be played Sunday in Torrington, Conn.

“I was not expecting it because there are a lot of good ballplayers in the league,” he said. “It was an honor to have my name called when he told us on the bus before they announced it.”

In limited action in 23 games this season at Virginia, Hunt hit .395 and provided depth at three infield positions. Getting that playing time and an extended look this summer has helped the former Mustang get comfortable at the plate with a wooden bat, something he did not do early last summer.

“After I redshirted last year I didn’t see too much live pitching, so I kind of struggled at the beginning of the year with Saratoga, but this year I feel good about my swing and my defense,” Hunt said. “It is all coming together.”

With three years of eligibility remaining, Hunt provides O’Connor and the coaching staff a flexible option as they try to replace at least half of their starting infield.

“The last two years I have gained a lot of knowledge about college baseball and how it is played, the mental aspects of the game,” he said. “My experience level is pretty high when you call me a sophomore.

“It is not really that big of a difference between all the positions — it is the same basic things. I feel a lot more comfortable now being able to play all the other positions besides shortstop.”

While Hunt has earned his All-Star label, starting pitcher Andrew Carraway remains in limbo for the same honor in the Cape Cod League.

The right-hander that manned a weekend rotation spot at UVa last season has certainly earned the honor should it come later this week.

Through five starts for the Hyannis Mets, Carraway (3-1, 0.95 ERA) ranks third in the league with 33 strikeouts.

“The league I pitched in last year [the New England League] was pretty good, but pitching in the ACC last year was the highest league that I had pitched at,” he said. “Coming out here was really going to be a test for me and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do as well and it gives me a lot of confidence.

“A bunch of these hitters are going to be in the Major Leagues in the next couple of years and if I can handle it now it is going to give me a lot of confidence.”