How JD Thompson could be Vanderbilt baseball's X-factor after SEC tournament win
HOOVER, Ala. — A series loss to Mississippi State in late April started Vanderbilt baseball's tailspin, a seven-game losing streak that the Commodores only pulled out of with a win in the third game of a series against Tennessee on May 12.
After that game, JD Thompson — who had pitched six shutout innings — proclaimed that things would be fine for Vanderbilt, which was then on the NCAA tournament bubble.
"We’re going to carry a lot of momentum into the SEC tournament and we're going to get to the tournament, I feel very confident about it," he said. "We’re going to get a few wins."
A week later, Thompson led Vanderbilt to a win over Kentucky with the season on the line once again. That victory pushed the Commodores to a 13-17 record in the SEC, typically the minimum record to qualify for a regional.
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But the legend of JD Thompson wasn't done yet. In the same ballpark where he got his first career start and led Vanderbilt to the SEC tournament final a year ago, he got the win with six innings of one-run ball Thursday to qualify the Commodores for the SEC tournament semifinals on just four days of rest. Vanderbilt (38-20) defeated Mississippi State 4-3.
"Just strikes," coach Tim Corbin said. "Just attack, being aggressive . . . Just a calm kid, goes about pitching in a way that looks like he's older. He does a good job containing emotions and handling adrenaline."
Thompson's emergence in the rotation has been a major development. Along with Bryce Cunningham, who threw six shutout innings in the tournament opener Tuesday, and veteran left-handers Carter Holton and Devin Futrell, the Commodores have four legitimate starters they can count on.
"Just composure when things don't go his way," southpaw Ryan Ginther said of Thompson. "He's always level-headed. I think that's probably the biggest thing he contributes to this team is that bad inning, good inning, it's the same JD. So I think he brings consistency to the team on and off the field."
Vanderbilt's next game will be a rematch Saturday with either Mississippi State (38-20) or Tennessee (47-11). The Commodores have not announced a starter, but Holton has yet to pitch in Hoover, and freshman lefty Ethan McElvain is also available, Corbin said. McElvain has not pitched in six weeks due to a back injury.
The bullpen is still a bit shaky, and that showed Thursday. Greysen Carter walked two batters in two-thirds of an inning and loaded the bases with two outs before being pulled for Ginther. Ginther finished the game and got the save, but he gave up two runs and put the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth.
Still, the Commodores won a true pitchers' duel, a game in which opposing starter Jurrangelo Cijntje struck out 10 in six innings. Thompson was simply a little bit better.
And with him pitching the way he has, Vanderbilt can feel much more secure in its plans, not just in Hoover but in an NCAA regional matchup as well.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: JD Thompson becomes key for Vanderbilt baseball in SEC tournament
