BUIES CREEK – Campbell Baseball will retire the jersey of two-time All-American and current Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Ryan Thompson, head coach Chris Marx announced Tuesday morning. 

Thompson's No. 27 joins Campbell Hall of Famer Jim Perry's No. 31 in receiving the honor. 

One of the best pitchers in Campbell baseball history, Thompson earned All-American honors in back-to-back seasons for the Camels and was named 2013 Big South Pitcher of the Year. He was a two-time first team All-Big South selection and named 2014 Big South Tournament MVP. Additionally, he was named to the 2013 NCBWA Stopper of the Year midseason watch list, 2014 Golden Spikes Award midseason list and was a finalist for the 2014 Senior Class Award. 

"It was a priority for us to celebrate all the winning success this program has had," said Marx. "I didn't feel we could go any further until we recognized what Ryan Thompson accomplished in the two record-breaking seasons here." 

Thompson owns the lowest season (0.88) and career (1.13) ERAs in program history. Both marks set Big South Conference records that still stand today. He holds the Campbell record with 17 saves in a season and most all-time saves with 27. Additionally, he set the single season record with 39 relief appearances in 2014.  

The right-hander made 70 appearances and pitched 161.1 innings with a 16-3 record in a pair of seasons with the Fighting Camels. Thompson tallied 144 strikeouts and held opponents to a .211 batting average. 

Thompson helped lead Campbell to its winningest season in program history in 2013 as the squad went 49-10 and earned the Big South Regular Season Championship. 

Thompson was selected in the 23^rd round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays where he would make his major league debut on July 24, 2020. He was named to the Rays' Opening Day roster in the shortened 2020 season and appeared in 25 games throwing 26.1 innings with a 1-2 record and a 4.44 ERA. 

He remained a valuable piece of the Rays' run to the 2020 World Series. Thompson appeared in each postseason series, including in three of the six World Series games against the LA Dodgers. Thompson was then traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023 and remains on the active roster. He currently holds a 17-16 record with a 3.55 ERA in 238.1 innings pitched in his MLB career. 
 
Thompson will be honored on Alumni Weekend which is set for November 7-8.