Get to know Nats relief pitcher Mason Thompson

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Mason Thompson has a quiet demeanor. Yet when the 6-foot-6, 244-pound right-handed reliever gets on the mound, his pitching speaks loud and clear.

Thompson posted zeros on Tuesday when he threw two innings against the Orioles in relief of Josiah Gray. He recorded a strikeout and did not allow a hit, run or walk.

“He’s looked really, really good this year,” said Gray, “and I’m super happy for him.”

In eight appearances this season, Thompson is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.60 WHIP across 13 1/3 frames. Six of his outings have been scoreless, and five have been multiple innings, including a career-high-tying three innings against the Rays.

Get to know about Thompson, 25, who was acquired from the Padres at the 2021 Trade Deadline.

Cowboy hat connoisseur: Thompson’s hat collection has expanded each season since he’s been with the Nationals. From day-to-day wear to special occasions, Thompson has a bevy of cowboy hats to choose from.

“[I have] probably eight or so,” Thompson said. “I’ve got a bunch of different colors -- black, brown, tan, gray, several straw hats -- and I’m probably looking to add to the collection. (Laughs) … The one that’s maybe most meaningful is the one that I wear when I’m just out hunting. It’s my dirty, knock around hat. I probably wear that one the most, I like that one a lot.”

Student of the game: Thompson spent time between the Nationals and Triple-A last season, including a rehab assignment for a right biceps strain that sidelined him on the 60-day injured list. Manager Dave Martinez noted how Thompson implemented the Nats’ to-do list each stint.

“[I have learned about] his willingness to make change and to compete,” said Martinez. “He’s made some strides and changes, especially last year. Every time … we sent him down with a task and something different to do to help him, he’s come back and made those changes. Now, he’s pounding the strike zone, his slider’s much better, his fastball is electric -- it really is, it moves quite a bit when he wants it to. He can also throw a four-seam when he wants to.

“But he was so eager to learn, so eager to get better and now he’s doing the things that we felt like he can do -- and do a lot of it. We asked him to do multiple innings, we asked him to just come in to pitch one inning, come into high-leverage situations -- and he’s done it and he wants to continue to do it.

“He’s a very quiet kid, but very passionate about what he does and how he does things. So I love him. I can’t say enough about what he’s gone through. He’s had some arm issues in the past, he works hard in the training room to keep himself healthy. But he’s always on-point. When you give him a task, he’s going to get it done.

New ride: Thompson towers on the mound, and now he has a towering vehicle. This offseason, Thompson purchased a 2022 model F-250 truck.

“I’ve always loved big trucks, and I went super big on this one,” Thompson said. “It can go up and down. I can change the level that it’s lifted at. It’s an air ride suspension, so I can let the air out, lower it down to a five-inch lift, and I can actually air it all the way up and it will go up to like 16.”

He continued, “When I lower it down, it makes it easier to get in and out to load things up. Cranking it all the way up, the guy told me is like the show setting, basically -- if you’re parked somewhere, and you want to crank it all the way up to look cool. But it rides at like a 10 to 12-inch lift.”

Calendar circled: The Round Rock, Texas, native has been looking forward to a mid-June road trip since the season schedule was announced.

“Houston for sure, going back home,” Thompson said. “I haven’t got to pitch at Houston or Texas yet. I was on the IL last year when we went to Texas. [I grew up] about two-and-a-half, three hours [from Houston].”

How many ticket requests does a hometown debut garner?

“I’m not going to be able to put in all the requests for tickets; it’s going to be too many people,” Thompson said. “I think my dad knows a guy that works with the Astros, and I think they’re going to try to set something up, either try to get a box or try to get some tickets. But my request of 20, 30, however many it’s going to be is not even going to be enough for everybody that’s going to come, I’m sure.”

Let me tell you about my best friend: Thompson scanned nearby lockers when asked who his closest friend is on the Nationals, then paused.

“Oh man, I don’t know if I can really pick,” he said. “But I think my best friend is the bullpen. The guys in the bullpen, I think we just get along really well, and we just have a good bond.”