FORT WORTH, Texas – Missouri State right-hander Brandt Thompson was chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 17th round (501st overall) of the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday.
Missouri State’s No. 1 starter the last two seasons, Thompson is the Bears’ first starting pitcher since Nick Petree in 2012-13 to earn consecutive first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference honors and the fourth multiple-time winner of the teams Dave Dickensheet Outstanding Pitcher Award.
In 2024, the senior from Eden Prairie, Minn., started 16 games and went 5-2 with a 3.78 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 78.2 innings. He led the MVC with a 1.16 WHIP, ranked second in ERA and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.41) and opponent average (.234).
Thompson completed his MSU career ranked ninth in school history with a 3.24 K/BB rate, tied for 16th with 33 pitching starts, and went 11-7 with a 3.61 ERA, .251 BAA, and 159 strikeouts in 162 innings.
He is the 120th Missouri State player selected in the MLB draft.
MLB teams have until August 1 to sign selections in the 2024 draft.
Thompson’s teammate, Eric Loomis, was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round (495th overall) of the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday.
A right-handed pitcher from St. Louis, Mo., Loomis ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference and 44th nationally in 2024 with 29 pitching appearances, good for eighth place on MSU’s single-season list. He struck out 33 batters in 26.2 innings with a .270 opponent average and recorded one save in his first season back from injury.
In 2022, Loomis fanned 45 batters against nine walks in 34.2 innings, ranked fifth in school history with a 5.0 K/BB ratio and seventh with 11.68 strikeouts per nine innings, both based on a 25-inning minimum. In his MoState career, Loomis was 4-4 with a 6.75 ERA over 62.2 innings and 54 appearances, striking out 78 batters.
He is the 119th Missouri State player selected in the MLB draft.
MLB teams have until August 1 to sign selections in the 2024 draft.
