Ben Thurmond

J. Ben Thurmond II

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
• School Winthrop University, Arizona State University
• High School Lower Richland High School
• Born October 2, 1981 in Columbia, SC USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Ben Thurmond spent three years in the San Francisco Giants system, before embarking on a three year sojourn through the independent leagues. He also went by the name J.B. Thurmond.

Initially drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 24th round of the 2002 amateur draft, a few picks ahead of pitcher Dane De La Rosa, he did not sign; rather, he transferred to Arizona State University for a year of ball there. After being taken by the Giants in the 15th round of the 2003 amateur draft, a couple picks after infielder Russ Mitchell and a couple ahead of pitcher Anthony Reyes, he did sign.

His career started with a bang, as he went 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 14 games (6 starts) for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in 2003; in 51 1/3 innings, he allowed just 44 hits and 9 walks for a 1.032 WHIP. He followed that with a 2.54 mark in 92 frames for the Hagerstown Suns in 2004. After posting a 4.41 ERA with a 10.6 H/9 IP ratio between two clubs in 2005, Thurmond was let go by the Giants organization; he'd never pitched above High A ball.

Latching on with the independent Reno Silver Sox of the Golden Baseball League in 2006, he went 8-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts. The career revitalization did not last long, however -- though he went 10-5 in 2007, his ERA rose to 5.33; it was 7.23 in 2008 to wrap up his career. From 2006 to 2008, he played for four independent league teams in three different leagues.

Overall, Thurmond went 16-13 with a 3.10 ERA in 229 innings in the Giants chain. He was 19-12, 4.71 in indy ball and 35-25, 3.92 overall.