Third Baseman Is CB360 Pick For Big 12 POY

Tony Thompson

Thompson will miss the first few weeks of the regular season due to a leg injury suffered in practice last week. Thompson fouled a pitch off his knee in practice last week and sustained a hairline fracture of his left kneecap.

His MRI showed no ligament damage, and his x-rays indicated that the kneecap has a hairline fracture, and no other structural damage.  Dr. Jeff Randall, KU Team Physician, is confident that Thompson will be completely healthy within 4-6 weeks.  He is receiving treatment from Kansas baseball athletic trainer Ken Wainwright on a daily basis.

“Obviously it goes without saying that this is a devastating way for our team to start the 2010 season,” Price said.  “The good news is that Tony will not need surgery, and he will be back in our lineup prior to the start of Big 12 Conference play.  Our team will need to come together and find a way to survive until we can get Tony healthy and back on the field.”

Thompson, a 6-foot-3 junior infielder from Reno, Nev., was a unanimous preseason All-America selection as well as the preseason favorite for Big 12 Player of the Year. He won the conference’s Triple Crown last year, leading the league in batting average (.389), home runs (21) and RBIs (82). He earned All-America recognition from three different publications last season, becoming the Jayhawks’ first All-American since Don Czyz in 2006.

Collegebaseball360.com also tabbed Thompson as the favorite to take home the 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year Award in our 2010 Big 12 Baseball Preview.  He ranked third in NCAA Division I baseball in doubles (27), fourth in total bases (186), as well as seventh in RBIs. He set single-season Jayhawk records in home runs and total bases, and ranked second in Kansas history in hits (96), doubles and RBIs.

“It’s unfortunate that this happened, but it’s better to have it happen now rather than in the middle of the season,” Thompson said.

In Thompson’s absence, the Jayhawks are planning to use the tandem of sophomore James Stanfield and redshirt freshmen Jordan Dreiling and Jake Marasco to fill in at third base.

“I’m confident that Jake Marasco, James Stanfield and Jordan Dreiling can handle the third base duties until Thompson returns,” Price said.

Kansas is scheduled to open the 2010 regular season Friday, Feb. 19 against Eastern Michigan at Hoglund Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back on the field before Big 12 play starts, and helping my teammates win games.”

(Release)