Thompson Feels at Home on the Road

Jason Thompson has experienced the quiet of the Midwest, charm of the South, the pace of Las Vegas and the culture of Japan.

Not a bad perk for a guy who likes--and gets paid--to travel.

Thompson, a 27-year-old former Laguna Hills and Saddleback College first baseman, is finishing the season on the disabled list in Las Vegas, his season over after rotator cuff surgery three weeks ago.

Thompson, who started 13 games for the Padres in 1996 (.224, two home runs) will be a free agent at season’s end.

He recently bought a condominium in Las Vegas, which is where he’ll decide where he wants to play next.

“I like to golf and there’s always something to do here--concerts, shows,” Thompson said. “It’s away from home, but it’s also close enough to visit. I can’t imagine a better place to live for a single guy.”

After leaving Saddleback, Thompson played baseball at Arizona.

“The desert has grown on me,” he said. “It’s more home than the beach, and I spent a lot of time at the beach.”

Thompson has certainly been around the block since being drafted by the Padres in the ninth round of the June free-agent draft in 1993.

“The only part of the states I’ve missed is the Northeast, but I imagine before I’m done playing I’ll see that area, too,” said Thompson, whose cultural enrichment the last four years included playing in Memphis, Tenn., and Japan. “I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel and see how different people are and where I want to live.

“I feel at a young age I’ve been able to experience different lifestyles. I don’t think I’ve been cheated in any way. Some people don’t want to travel, but I’ve always wanted to see different places.”

Thompson played in Spokane, Wash., Rancho Cucamonga and Wichita, Kan., his first two seasons.

He noticed cultural differences within the U.S., but nothing was quite like Japan.

“Once you go to Japan, it’s a completely different world--it can’t be compared to any place in the states,” Thompson said. “It’s almost like being in a dream; it’s real and you’re part of it without being completely involved in it [because] I knew at some point I was going to step out of it.

“The best thing about going to Japan was learning to appreciate the U.S.”

The expectations on American players in Japan were unreasonable, he said.

“They expect so much out of American players,” Thompson said. “They can never be completely satisfied with how you’re doing over there.”

He said it would be tougher playing someplace like New York or Boston, though.

“Criticism from your fellow Americans would be much harder for me to take than being criticized by someone from a different country,” he said.

Thompson batted .247 with 14 home runs and 62 runs batted in in 127 games last year for Chiba-Lotte in Japan.

His 11-for-49 performance for the Padres in 1996--he was called up after Wally Joyner broke his thumb--only strengthened his resolve to get back to the major leagues. It ended on a bad note, though. He was batting .268 when he went 0 for seven and made two errors.

“It was probably my worst game in organized baseball,” Thompson said. “They were in first place in the middle of a losing streak--who better to send down?

“It’s the business of baseball and the game of life. If you can’t take it, you’re in the wrong business. . . . I like to think I made the most of my opportunity, except for one day.”

This season has not been kind to Thompson. He tried to play despite his injury, only to see his batting average tumble from .281 to .247. He went eight for his last 15 at-bats, raising his average to .271 (with three homers and 17 RBIs in 58 games) before going on the DL for good.

He will be a free agent for the first time and will make one of his most important decisions--where to play next?

“You have to be in the right spot at the right time [and] you have to be performing well when injuries happen in front of you,” Thompson said. “Once you get there, and play well, you may never go back down [to the minors] again.

“I don’t think the Padres consider me a huge part of their future. I’m not going to stay in this game until I’m 35 playing in the minor leagues. I don’t feel I’m that far off from the big leagues.”