Ryan Thompson, Went Out - 19

Ryan Thompson worked in June 2000 to earn a permanent spot with the Yankees, according to The New York Daily News.

He tried to do it by showing off his skills, The Daily News wrote.

"It's a matter of going out and doing it, though," Thompson told The Daily News. "You can't talk about it, you've got to do it."

By that point, Thompson had tried it over seven major league seasons and four organizations. But he hadn't yet broken through, or at least fulfilled the promise once seen in his early career.

Thompson never showed enough with the Yankees to stick. He saw 33 games with them that summer and went on to play with the Marlins and Brewers to end his nine-season big league career.

Thompson's career began in 1987, taken by the Blue Jays in the 13th round of the draft out of Kent County High School in Maryland.

He started at rookie Medicine Hat, then made single-A Dunedin in 1988 and AA Knoxville in 1991 and AAA Syracuse in 1992.

For 1992, the Blue Jays sent him with Jeff Kent to the Mets for David Cone. He then made the Mets in 1992.

He got into 30 games and hit .222. He returned in 1993. He got into 80 games and hit .250. Going into 1994, Thompson worked to improve over winter ball. He also knew, at 26, that time was running out to make his mark, according to The New York Times.

"You hear everybody say 'you've got the potential to be this and potential to be that,' but after a while you get tired of hearing it -- and eventually the potential runs out if you don't produce," Thompson told The Times.

He continued with the Mets in 1994 and 1995. He hit 18 home runs in 1994 and hit .225.

He moved to the Indians for 1996, but only saw eight games. He played 1997 completely in the minors. To The Daily News in March 1997, though, Thompson remained optimistic.

"My outlook hasn't changed," Thompson told The Daily News. "The door of opportunity is still open for me. I've learned a lot. I know what I can do and I still believe it'll happen for me."

He played 1998 in Japan with Daiei. He then returned stateside and played 12 games with the Astros in 1999. He played three more seasons, spending time with the Yankees, Marlins and Brewers to end his career.

Thompson saw time in nine big league seasons, 416 games. He hit 52 total home runs and ended with a .243 average.

• New York Times, Dec. 25, 1993: Thompson is Hitting by the book in Winter Ball
• New York Daily News, March 5, 1997: Mets look back at Thompson and get Royal pain
• New York Daily News, July 27, 2000: Ryan has hope he'll be in left

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,886
Made the Majors:1,075-37.3%-X
Never Made Majors:1,811-62.7%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 445-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:268