Should Taylor Thompson be called up to White Sox bullpen?

Mar 3, 2014; Surprise, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball and glove on field during Texas Rangers practice at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Right-handed reliever Taylor Thompson has been in the Chicago White Sox organization since 2009. This season in Triple-A Charlotte he leads the team in saves, and his ERA has steadily improved from last season. The question is: Should Thompson be called up to the White Sox bullpen this season?

In 2014 with the Knights, Thompson has pitched in 26 games, where he’s built a 3.18 ERA in 39.2 innings of relief with a 1-0 record and four saves.

Taylor Thompson of the Charlotte Knights. (Photo from Knights’ web site).

Each year, Thompson has made the move to the next step in the minors, as last year he played in 12 games with the Knights where he pitched just 16 innings.

I know he has little time in the minors, but would he be a good fit for the White Sox bullpen this season? The one problem is Thompson isn’t on the White Sox 40-man roster.

Since joining the White Sox organization in ’09, he’s never ended a season with an ERA above 4.00. He was very productive in Double-A with the Birmingham Barons with an ERA of 2.15 in 32 games (50.1 innings) in ’12, and in ’13, in 32 games, his ERA was 2.15 before being moved to the Knights.

He’s also tied in saves with Donnie Veal this season for the Knights with four.

Around a month ago, Seth Lakso, who covers the Knights for the Charlotte Observer, wrote on the Charlotte Knights Insider:

"“Taylor Thompson, on the other hand, has quietly performed well every year since beginning his professional career and there’s almost no chance you’ve heard about a single outing.”"

Should Taylor Thompson be called up to White Sox bullpen this season?

By Stephen Forsha | Jul 1, 2014