MONTGOMERY, Ala. - As he had done so many times before, Blake Logan positioned himself behind home plate when Keegan Thompson jogged out to the pitcher's mound.
Only this time, Logan, Thompson's teammate and catcher at Auburn from 2014-17, was in the stands, seated behind the scouts with their radar guns.
"I caught myself trying to call the pitches with him, still," said Logan, who came from Auburn with fellow former teammate J.J. Shaffer to watch Thompson pitch for the Chicago Cubs' double-A affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies.
"I was talking with J.J. I said, 'Man, I think he should go with a back-foot slider," Logan said. "I was just trying to play the game along with him."
Old habits die hard.
Keegan Thompson struck out the side in the first inning Tuesday in Montgomery. Photo: George Nunnelley/Auburn Athletics
In the same row a few seats away sat Keegan's parents, Jerry and Phyllis Thompson, who drove two-plus hours from their home in Cullman, Alabama, to watch their son make start No. 12 since being promoted from single-A Myrtle Beach in late June.
"I'm not as nervous as I was when he played at Auburn," Phyllis Thompson said. "I feel like I should be more nervous because this is his livelihood now. Casey [Mize's] mom asked me one night,
'Are you more nervous with these games?' I said, 'I'm not as nervous.'
"I thank the Good Lord for the talents He's given him. He's blessed him. Keegan's worked hard for it, but we have got to be thankful to the Good Lord, too."
After his stellar Auburn career, the Cubs drafted Keegan in the third round in 2017, a development that seemed unlikely two years earlier when Thompson had elbow surgery and sat out the 2016 season while recovering.
"What I thought was one of the worst things that could happen was the biggest blessing that ever was," Phyllis said. "Because, with Tommy John surgery, he was able to redshirt, get his degree and graduate. If this doesn't pan out, he's got something to fall back on."
Thompson's interdisciplinary studies degree from Auburn University, with emphases on sports coaching and personal finance, will create post-baseball opportunities.
For now, he's locked into his profession, positioned to perhaps become Auburn's 52nd major leaguer.
"I'm not really worried about that right now," Thompson said. "I'm just trying to pitch where I'm pitching right now. Not trying to worry about moving up or moving down levels. I'm just trying to go in, do your work every day."
After getting promoted from single-A, Thompson went 5-0 with a 1.08 ERA in eight starts from June 30 to Aug. 11 for the Smokies.
"Just doing the same stuff I've been doing," he said. "Trying to throw strikes, let the defense work behind me. Besides a few starts here and there, I've missed barrels for the most part, just battling day in, day out, and just pitch."
Thompson followed closely during Auburn's dramatic super regional run this season.
"It was neat," he said. "I was very proud of them and their season, and how they played."
It was 10 p.m. on a weeknight when Keegan's parents and Auburn teammates got to visit with him outside Riverwalk Stadium.
"Very proud," Jerry Thompson said. "Everything he's been through. His maturity is great. He's always been about team, put the team first. This minor league [baseball] is more individual. You've got to figure out what you need to do to progress. I think he's done that well."
After the Smokies' season ends on Labor Day, Thompson will return to Auburn in the offseason to begin training for 2019.
"It's great," Keegan said. "Having support of the Auburn Family and being close to home. It's nice to have everybody there rooting for me."
Keegan Thompson in the dugout at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium. Photo: George Nunnelley/Auburn Athletics
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: