MINNEAPOLIS -- Tigers outfield prospect Steven Moya has heard all about Jake Thompson, Detroit's highly touted right-handed pitching prospect.
He's read about Thompson's pinpoint fastball, and he's heard stories about his deceiving slider. But Moya never had the chance to face the 20-year-old Thompson. Until Sunday.
It didn't take long for the 6-foot-7, 240 pound Moya to witness firsthand what the hoopla surrounding Thompson, the Tigers' second-round pick in 2012, was all about.
Thompson needed just three pitches to dispose of Moya in the sixth inning, capped by an 83 mph slider for a called third strike in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game, an annual showcase featuring baseball's best minor leaguers.
"I had heard that he had been doing really good in the Florida State League," Moya said. "But I never expected him to be that good."
In all, Thompson needed just eight pitches to strike out the only two batters he faced in the United State's 3-2 win over the World at Target Field in Minneapolis. It extended a five-game winning streak for the U.S.
Thompson, who was credited with the win, entered the game with Team USA trailing 2-1 before Texas third base prospect Joey Gallo put his raw power on display with a towering two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the U.S. team the lead for good.
"It's not the traditional win, but it's something I'll remember," Thompson said. "I'll take it. I didn't throw a full inning, but it's always nice to get a win anyway you can."
It marked just the second relief appearance at any level for Thompson, who has struck out all five batters he's faced as a reliever. But it's been Thompson's success as a starter this year that earned him an invitation to join Moya in Minnesota this weekend.
Named to the Florida State League All-Star Game last month, Thompson has been dominate this season with Single-A Lakeland, striking out 79 batters and limiting opponents to a .244 batting average en route to a 6-4 record and a 3.14 ERA.
The key behind his success? His fastball command. Ranked the Tigers' No. 3 prospect by fangraphs.com, Thompson has walked just 29 batters in 83 innings.
"I'm just using my fastball more," Thompson said. "I'm not just throwing it as hard as I can. I'm setting hitters up. That way, I don't have to show my offspeed."
Thompson's go-to pitch is his explosive slider, but in order to make his breaking ball more effective, getting ahead in the count is crucial. And his pitch sequence to Moya was a perfect example of what he's been able to do so well this season.
Thompson threw a fastball and a changeup, both for strikes, before he got Moya to watch his slider for a called third strike. Though, it was a questionable strike, joked Moya, who is ranked the Tigers' best power hitter according to Baseball America.
"It wasn't a strike," Moya said. "I didn't say anything to the umpire, but it was really inside."
Moya, who played left field and batted fifth for the world, finished 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts. He drew a walk in the fourth inning and struck out on four pitches in the ninth with the game-tying run on first base. But it was his at-bat against Thompson that was the topic of conversation after the game.
"Last year, when I saw him in spring training, he was just a regular pitcher," Moya said about Thompson. "But now, he's gotten really better."
Then again, so too has Moya, who has packed on 35 pounds since last year and has belted an Eastern League-leading 22 home runs for the SeaWolves this season.
"I'll get (Thompson) next year," Moya said with a smile. "When I see him in spring training next year, I'll show him."