Ryan Thompson Glad To Be Part of D-backs Culture
Sidewinding reliever Ryan Thompson burst onto the scene in the peak of Arizona's bullpen needs back in 2023. He, along with RHPs Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald, helped solidify a shaky bullpen and turn it into one of the Diamondbacks' biggest strengths.
Thompson, in an interview with Arizona Sports 98.7's Bickley and Marotta, talked about his strange MLB journey last season, and how it ultimately landed him in the positive culture that is Diamondbacks baseball.
Thompson, a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, who looked to be the best team in baseball for the early portion of the season, said that both he and his team had gotten off to a hot start.
"We were breaking records over there, it was looking like we were going to be the team to beat in the AL, I was pitching really well, feeling good," Thompson said.
But things would start to go downhill for the right-hander. His numbers were inflated by a five-run outing, and he spent time down in Triple-A. Thompson said it felt like there was "no escape" from the minors for him.
"It seems like thats how it happens in this game a little bit, you’re riding your high horse, and all of a sudden you trip and fall. There’s a snake on the ground, and the horse bucks you off and you break your neck, that's what I felt like, [I] hit a wall real fast."
Luckily for Thompson, that snake on the ground turned out to be a godsend. The righty was released from Tampa Bay, allowing him to become a free agent for the first time in his career. Although it may have seemed like the team had given up on Thompson, the reliever felt he had plenty left in the tank still.
"It was a really weird call that I got in August, Tampa Bay had a lot of control over me, I have playoff experience, they were in a playoff run. I was a good option for them to just leave in Triple-A and could help them if they need it… and I get the call that I was getting released. And I was shocked by that, but I was excited about that, I felt like I had a lot more to give, and I wasn't sure if I was going to give it with that team anymore."
Thompson signed a minor league deal with the D-backs in August, before making his debut just a week later. His first action with Arizona was a save situation, which he navigated without a baserunner. Thompson said he felt the support of the team immediately, noting the positive fit and belief in him as a player.
"It just seemed like the Diamondbacks and myself were just a match made in heaven, coming over here, and just the confidence that they're boosting in me, pumping my tires from the beginning, saying how much they believe in me, that they believe in me to be leverage right off the bat."
Thompson, who had gotten off to a 6.11 ERA start with Tampa--mainly due to a single blowup outing--went on to become a dominant presence with the Diamondbacks, lowering his season ERA to 3.82 and allowing just one earned run in his 13 innings with the D-backs.
That carried over to a 2.31 postseason ERA, where he was a critical member of the back end bullpen. But the reliever emphasized the strength of Arizona's bullpen as a whole unit, and the chemistry and community that has become a recurrent theme for this young D-backs team.
"There’s a lot to it, [bullpen coach Mike Fetters] and the bullpen, our bullpen community that we have. Myself, Ginkel and Sewald were getting a lot of the credit last year, but man, we had a strong group down there, where any of the eight of us couldve went in any situation and dominated," Thompson said.
Thompson praised Arizona's ethic and selflessness as a whole, and commented on how the young team came together without regard for personal ego or achievement.
"Just being able to help each other out, we were such a strong group... Down the stretch, just the way that our team just came together, and the unity, and the confidence that we had. And how much we cared."
Thompson emphasized how the team works for each other, and how the culture that has been created by Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo is a huge factor in going the distance, as was evidenced by their World Series run. He noted the specialness of this unit's ability to work selflessly towards a common goal.
"In the big leagues you have this dichotomy, of like ‘this is what we’ve worked for since we’re 5 years old, this is everything to us…’ and then you have on the other side, where it’s like ‘I'm too good, I'm the best in the world, I don't have to work hard...' said Thompson, "you come over here, and it's just a culture that we have in Arizona, you don't see that side of it. Everyone here is here for each other, and everyone wants to win every single game, even if it's at the sacrifice of themselves, we're willing to jump on grenades for each other, and it's just a cool culture, cool environment to be a part of."
Thompson looks to be a big part of Arizona's bullpen again in 2024, and the culture and selfless work ethic continues to help drive this young team to even greater heights ahead.
