Mauldin Native Bo Thompson Headed to CWS Home Run Derby

The Citadel may not be playing in the College World Series (CWS) in Omaha, but it will have a presence there in the form of Mauldin native Bo Thompson.

The Citadel first baseman/designated hitter and former J.L. Mann High product will be joined by several of the top sluggers in the nation when he competes in the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby in Omaha on July 3.

The event takes place at TD Ameritrade Park, which is currently hosting the College World Series, and will be shown on ESPN on July 4.

Thompson earned a spot in the derby on the strength of his 14 home runs during his sophomore season, a figure that tied him for third in the Southern Conference and 20th in the nation.

The Mauldin native batted .299 and added 10 doubles and 52 RBI. He slugged .567 on the year and his on-base percentage of .472 ranked him second in the SoCon and 30th in the nation. Thompson's 54 walks were the sixth-most in the country.

After missing three games with an ankle injury in early March, Thompson slammed three home runs and drove in five runs in a win over Samford in the first conference game of the season on March 8.

He matched that career high in RBI against Furman on April 27 as part of a game which saw him knock out a career-best five hits and hit two more homers. He also drove in five runs against Charleston Southern on May 14.

Thompson had a stretch in which he reached base via a hit, walk or hit by pitch in 44 consecutive games. He homered in six of The Citadel's 10 SoCon series and also went deep against Big 12 champion and NCAA Super Regional participant Kansas State.