Favorite Pre-Game Meal: A pretty basic sandwich

Hype Song: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

Inspiration: My parents and Chipper Jones

Future Job: Something in business

Wingspan: Why did you decide to play baseball?

Thompson: “I always did it, started when I was five. I played other sports too, but I was just really good at baseball and it just caught on my interest and I liking it more and more.”

Wingspan: What keeps you motivated while playing?

Thompson: “Competitiveness, so I always like to win, our team to be the best, and always want to play competitively.”

Wingspan: How do you deal with pressure?

Thompson: “I just try and focus on one pitch at a time, and when I do that, I focus on smaller scale instead of a bigger scale.”

Wingspan: How do you prepare for a game?

Thompson: “I study the scouting the reports that our coaches make, look at the tendencies for the hitter. I’ll also study the hitters that are the best hitters on the team. I’ll look at some footage if we have some, and how I got them out last year, and what pitches not to throw at them in those spots.”

Wingspan: What are some challenges you face while playing?

Thompson: “There’s always a new challenge each batter. I want the first pitch to be a strike, don’t want to give up free bases, so no walks or hitting a batter. First out is always key to me, so if i can get the first batter out, the inning usually goes really well for me.”

Wingspan: What was your favorite memory playing baseball?

Thompson: “Playing with my dad when he was coach and spending time with him.”

Wingspan: Does playing baseball ever affect your social life?

Thompson: “I can I mean usually we have one game on Friday and Tuesday. The Tuesday games can sometimes affect school, but the block schedule usually lets me get ahead of my homework, so it doesn’t really affect me.”

Wingspan: How are you pursuing baseball in the future?

Thompson: “I’m going to play college ball at Seton Hall, and after that, I’m gonna see how it goes in college and if it works out, maybe go even further.”