GREENSBORO, N.C. – Recent graduate Danny Thompson Jr., who was a right-handed pitcher for the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball team, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round with the 232nd pick during the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft on Monday.

Thompson Jr.'s selection brings the program total to 48 Spartans selected in MLB Drafts. Additionally, the Pollocksville, North Carolina, native is the 29th UNCG pitcher picked in the draft and the 13th to go before the start of the 10th round.

"Truly blessed to be picked up by the Blue Jays in the eighth round," Thompson Jr. said. "Honestly, I didn't even know a team was thinking about taking me before the 10th round. That's the weird thing about this game. The two years I had at UNCG were two memorable years I will carry on for a lifetime.

"I'm thankful for Coach Billy Godwin taking a chance on me and giving me an opportunity to play at the Division I level. I'm greatly thankful for Coach Ellis, Coach Seth Maness, Coach Kevin Westlake, Coach Kris Taveras and Tristan McAlister for believing in me each and every day. Also, thank you, Athletic Trainer Matthew Thrall."

Thompson Jr. was among UNCG's most dominant arms throughout the 2025 season, leading the team with a 3.79 ERA and 87 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .234 average. He paced the Spartans with 23 appearances, including a team-high 21 showings out of the bullpen. In 61.2 innings pitched, Thompson Jr. issued just 24 walks and allowed only four home runs.

"Danny is a true professional in the way he works, prepares and performs," said UNCG Baseball Head Coach Cody Ellis. "He made our program better from the time he stepped on campus, and there is no doubt he will make the Toronto Blue Jays organization better as well."

After being named to the All-Southern Conference Preseason Team earlier this year, Thompson Jr. earned a spot on the All-SoCon First Team by the end of the season. He finished the year second in the SoCon with 87 strikeouts but led the way comfortably in strikeouts per nine innings at a 12.7 clip. Additionally, Thompson Jr. finished tied for first with four saves and had excellent control while ranking fifth in the league with an average of 5.1 walks allowed per nine innings.
 

— UNCG Baseball (@UNCGBaseball) July 14, 2025

Thompson Jr.'s most notable appearance came on April 18 at USC Upstate, where he pitched a single-game season high of 6.1 innings in relief on the way to UNCG winning 4-3 in 15 innings. He took over during the seventh inning and pitched through the conclusion of the 13th frame, tallying nine strikeouts along the way. The dominant right-hander's high for strikeouts was posted on April 5 at ETSU when he pitched 5.1 innings in relief and retired 10 of the 19 batters he faced on strikes. He finished the season starting on the mound for the Spartans at the SoCon Tournament, where he made his second start and posted eight strikeouts while facing 23 batters.

The New Bern High School product competed from 2021-23 at NC Wesleyan before transferring to UNCG to play from 2024-25. He helped the Spartans win the 2024 SoCon Regular Season title.

Thompson Jr. joins the likes of Tim Giles, a first baseman for UNCG drafted in 1996 (20th, #579), and Ryan Gordon, a left-handed pitcher at UNCG drafted in 2003 (43rd, 1278), as the only Spartans to be drafted by the Blue Jays.

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