It wasn’t long ago left-hander Colton Thomson was leading the University of New Mexico baseball program to the 2016 Mountain West Tournament title and a fifth NCAA postseason appearance in seven seasons as the Friday night ace for the Lobos.
After signing as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Gilbert, Arizona, native capped a sensational 2016 by being named the Gulf Coast League Championship Most Valuable Player while leading the GCL Cardinals to the title Sept. 7. He also was named Scout.com’s The Cardinal Nation’s St. Louis Cardinal Minor League Reliever of the Month for August.
Thomson, who went 8-2 with a 3.61 ERA for the Lobos in 2016 and earned Co-Mountain West Championship Most Valuable Player after blanking Nevada in the MW Tournament, earned the GCL MVP honors after pitching 5.1 innings of scoreless relief in two postseason appearances – giving up just one hit while striking out six and walking none. This included pitching the final 3.2 innings in the deciding game for the save – giving up just a lone hit while striking out three.
Thomson earned the August reliever of the month honor by pitching 11.2 innings of scoreless relief with a win and four saves while allowing three hits and striking out 16.
Thomson finished his first professional summer at 1-0 with a 1.03 ERA, five saves, 29 strikeouts and a 0.99 WHIP in 26.1 innings (16 appearances).