Thompson Promoted to Double A

John Thompson, the JetHawks’ relief pitcher who had a 6.13 earned-run average last season in Lancaster, returned to the Hangar saying he was a changed man, and Wednesday night he was rewarded with a promotion to double-A Memphis.

“I’m really excited,” Thompson said. “I learned a lot down here. I learned that you just have to keep the ball down and inside on guys.”

Thompson, 24, who had better command this spring, pitched three scoreless innings before giving up a solo home run in the ninth inning Wednesday night.

Robby Christianson, a 21-year-old right-hander, will take Thompson’s spot on the JetHawk roster. Christianson was 5-1 with a 3.76 ERA last season at rookie-level Peoria, Ariz.

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Today’s game:

San Bernardino (Rick Gorecki, 0-0, 0.00) at JetHawks (Eric Morgan, 0-0, 3.38), 7:15 p.m.

Around the leagues

Scanning Wednesday’s box scores: Left-hander Andrew Lorraine (Hart High) took the loss for triple-A Edmonton. . . . First baseman Mike Mitchell (Rio Mesa) went three for four and hit his second home run for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. . . . Second baseman Derek Swafford (Ventura High) went two for four for Class-A Lynchburg, Va. . . . Outfielder Gabe Kapler (Taft, Moorpark College) went three for three with five RBIs for Class-A Lakeland, Fla. . . . First baseman Randy Vickers (Glendale College) hit two homers for Class-A Capital City in Columbia, S.C.

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Catcher Brian Luderer (Crespi) took advantage of not being experienced enough (six pro games after signing out of high school last summer) to fit with any of the A’s full-season, minor-league teams in spring training. Luderer spent much of the spring with the major-league team, albeit catching in the bullpen.

Luderer even got a hit in one major-league exhibition at-bat.

Luderer is at home in the Valley until May 1, when he reports back to Arizona for extended spring training.