Colorado Rockies select Florida outfielder Sterlin Thompson in MLB Draft

Sterlin Thompson’s dreams became a reality Sunday night when the Florida outfielder was selected with the 31st pick of the 2022 MLB Draft my the Colorado Rockies. Thompson put himself in the record books, surpassing Brad Wilkerson and becoming the highest outfielder to get drafted from Florida in school history.

The Gators had a strong four year run starting in 2015 where they had at least one player drafted in the first round, followed by a three year dry spell of zero first round picks. Thompson breaks the spell, becoming the first player since the trio of Jonathan India, Brady Singer, and Jackson Kowar were all selected in the first round of 2018.

Thompson may have only played two seasons for the Gators, but made the most of his short time on the team. He made instant noise as a freshman, making the 2021 All-SEC Freshman team as well as the 2021 SEC-All Tournament team. He batted at a .301 average that season with 55 hits and then took his game to another level his sophomore year, bringing his batting average up to an outstanding .354 and racking up 90 hits on the season.

Thompson will sign a $2,429,300 signing bonus, as he was picked in the compensation round between the first and second round; a pick acquired through through Trevor Story turning down the Rockies qualifying offer in 2021.

Thompson is also a proven defensive player, boasting a .972 fielding percentage on 179 defensive chances. The Rockies are getting a proven offensive and defensive weapon in Thompson as they look at develop him into a player that could potentially one day play alongside and learn from veteran outfielder Charlie Blackon.

Here’s what MLB.com had to say about Thompson as a prospect.

“Thompson has long shown a good feel to hit from the left side of the plate with a very good approach. He can use the whole field and drive the ball to the gaps, rarely missing a fastball, though he struggles a bit more with softer stuff. The question in terms of his offensive profile comes in trying to project how much power he’ll have. There’s plenty of raw pop there and a sense there will be strength gains in his 6-foot-3 frame, but he has more of a hit over power approach. A shortstop in high school, Thompson played right field with Florida as a freshman and saw time there and at third this past fall, but most scouts feel an outfield corner is his best long-term home at the next level. Wherever he plays, it’s his left-handed bat that will carry him and potentially get him drafted in the top three rounds.”