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Bubba Thompson

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Bubba Thompson
Thompson with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1998-06-09) June 9, 1998 (age 26)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 4, 2022, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through April 29, 2024)
Batting average.232
Home runs1
Runs batted in13
Stolen bases27
Teams

Leslie Arnold "Bubba" Thompson (born June 9, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds. Thompson was drafted by the Rangers with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft.

Amateur career

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Thompson attended McGill–Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Alabama. He played baseball and American football in high school.[1] As a junior in baseball, he hit .469 with 19 stolen bases.[2] During his senior year in football, he led his team to the Class 7A state title game, and passed for 3,173 yards and 38 touchdowns.[2] Thompson was teammates with future NFL wide receiver Jalen Tolbert.[3]

He originally committed to Auburn University to play college baseball, but changed his commitment to the University of Alabama in February 2017.[4][5][6] A three-star football recruit, he also received offers to play college football from the University of Tennessee and the University of Mississippi.[7][8]

Thompson was considered one of the top prospects for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[9][10] Thompson was drafted by the Texas Rangers with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the draft.[11]

Professional career

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Texas Rangers

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Thompson officially signed with the Rangers a few days after the draft[12] and was assigned to the AZL Rangers, where he spent the whole season, posting a .257 batting average in 113 at bats with three home runs and 12 RBIs in thirty games.[13] He spent 2018 with the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League, where he slashed .289/.344/.446 in 332 at bats with eight home runs, 42 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases in 39 attempts.[14]

Thompson was ranked as the #48 overall prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus in their preseason 2019 Top 101 list.[15] He was ranked as the #108 overall prospect in baseball by Fangraphs in their preseason 2019 Top 130 list.[16]

Thompson was assigned to the Down East Wood Ducks of the High–A Carolina League for the 2019 season.[17][18] He was placed on the injured list on April 17, after suffering a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.[19] He finished an injury-marred season hitting .178/.261/.312/.573 in 202 at bats with five home runs and 21 RBIs and 12 steals in 15 attempts in 57 games.[20] Thompson played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros following the 2019 season,[21][22] and was named a Fall League All-Star.[23]

Thompson did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thompson spent the 2021 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central, hitting .275/.325/.483 in 429 at bats with 16 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases in 33 attempts.[24][25] He was named the co-winner of the Rangers' 2021 True Ranger Award, along with Keyber Rodriguez.[26] Thompson opened the 2022 season with the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, hitting .304/.355/.474 in 346 at bats with 13 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 49 stolen bases (a Round Rock record, and second in the PCL) in 52 attempts over 80 games.[27][28][29][30]

On August 4, 2022, Texas selected Thompson's contract and promoted him to the active roster to make his MLB debut versus the Chicago White Sox.[31] In his debut, Thompson recorded his first career hit, a bunt single off of Johnny Cueto.[32] On August 30, Thompson hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez.[33] In 2022 with Texas, he batted .265/.302/.312 in 170 at bats with 18 steals in 21 attempts, and his 85.71% stolen base percentage was 8th-best in the American League, as he played primarily left field.[34] He had the second-fastest sprint speed of all major league batters, at 30.4 feet/second.[35]

In 37 games for Texas in 2023, Thompson batted .170/.237/.283 with 4 RBI and 4 stolen bases. On August 11, 2023, Thompson was designated for assignment following the promotion of J. P. Martínez.[36]

Kansas City Royals

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On August 13, 2023, Thompson was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals.[37] In 33 games for the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, Thompson hit .259/.313/.410 with 4 home runs, 17 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.

Cincinnati Reds

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On October 26, 2023, Thompson was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds,[38] who designated him for assignment on December 28.[39] He was then claimed by the New York Yankees on January 4, 2024[40] designated for assignment on January 19,[41] and claimed by the Minnesota Twins on January 24.[42] Thompson was designated for assignment by the Twins on February 7 following multiple waiver claims,[43] and was then claimed again by the Reds on February 13.[44] Thompson was optioned to the Triple–A Louisville Bats to begin the 2024 season.[45] On March 27, Thompson was recalled from Louisville.[46] He played in 17 games for Cincinnati, but went 2–for–18 (.111) with no home run or RBI. On May 23, Thompson was designated for assignment by the Reds.[47] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts on May 25.[48] On November 6, he elected free agency.[49]

References

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  1. ^ Ben Thomas (July 28, 2016). "McGill-Toolen's multi-talented Bubba Thompson could have future in baseball, football or both". AL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Tim Whelan Jr. (February 7, 2017). "Two-sport star Bubba Thompson commits to Alabama to play baseball". USA Today. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  3. ^ Staff, SportsDay (August 4, 2022). "Cowboys rookie WR Jalen Tolbert on learning from Dak Prescott and more". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Ben Thomas (November 23, 2016). "McGill-Toolen QB Bubba Thompson de-commits from Auburn baseball, wants to play 2 sports". AL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  5. ^ Ben Thomas (February 7, 2017). "McGill-Toolen two-sport star Bubba Thompson picks baseball, will sign with Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  6. ^ David Johnson (November 24, 2016). "Ole Miss QB Target De-Commits From Auburn Baseball". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Ryan Callahan (November 23, 2016). "Tennessee Vols QB target Bubba Thompson decommits from Auburn baseball". 247Sports.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  8. ^ Ben Thomas (October 18, 2016). "Auburn baseball commit Bubba Thompson receives 1st SEC football offer". AL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  9. ^ Ben Thomas (May 2, 2017). "Bama baseball signee Bubba Thompson has 'star upside,' could be picked in 1st round of MLB Draft". AL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  10. ^ MLB Pipeline. "MLB.com 2017 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  11. ^ T.R. Sullivan (June 12, 2017). "Rangers draft Bubba Thompson with first pick". MLB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  12. ^ Ben Thomas (June 16, 2017). "Former McGill-Toolen star Bubba Thompson officially signs with Texas Rangers". AL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  13. ^ "Bubba Thompson Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  14. ^ "Bubba Thompson Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  15. ^ BP Prospect Staff (January 23, 2019). "2019 Prospects: The Top 101". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  16. ^ Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel (February 13, 2019). "2019 Top 100 Prospects". Fangraphs. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  17. ^ Jordan Honeycutt (April 3, 2019). "Bubba Thompson, a fresh face for Wood Ducks". Jacksonville Daily News. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  18. ^ Matt Present (March 27, 2019). "Wood Ducks Announce 2019 Roster". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  19. ^ Evan Grant (April 17, 2019). "Rangers prospect Bubba Thompson out four weeks with fractured hamate bone". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  20. ^ Jamey Newberg (September 12, 2019). "Long-term looks: Three high-upside Rangers outfield prospects on the horizon". The Athletic. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  21. ^ Matt Present (April 28, 2019). "Three Wood Ducks to Compete in Arizona Fall League". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  22. ^ Jim Callis (September 30, 2019). "No. 8 prospect seeks rhythm in AFL after injuries". MLB.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  23. ^ Jonathan Mayo (October 8, 2019). "Here are Saturday's Fall Stars Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  24. ^ Landry, Kennedi (October 1, 2021). "Snyder, Winn among Minors Awards winners". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  25. ^ Landry, Kennedi (March 26, 2022). "'We can't sleep on Bubba': Thompson has game". MLB.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  26. ^ Blake, John (October 1, 2021). "Texas Rangers announce 2021 Minor League award winners". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "2022 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  28. ^ Postins, Matthew. "Rangers Top-30 Prospect Sets Stolen Base Record". Sports Illustrated Texas Rangers News, Analysis and More.
  29. ^ Postins, Matthew (July 30, 2022). "Bubba Thompson: 'Stealing is What I Want to Do'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  30. ^ Gilberto, Gerard (July 28, 2022). "Prospect Q&A: Rangers outfielder Thompson". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  31. ^ Grant, Evan (August 4, 2022). "Texas Rangers recall 2017 first-round pick Bubba Thompson". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  32. ^ Postins, Matthew (August 4, 2022). "Bubba Thompson Makes Rangers Debut". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  33. ^ "Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Launches first MLB homer". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  34. ^ "Bubba Thompson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  35. ^ "Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com.
  36. ^ "Rangers make room for outfielder J.P. Martinez, DFA Bubba Thompson". dallasnews.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  37. ^ "Royals' Bubba Thompson: Claimed by KC". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  38. ^ Dietz, Matthew (October 28, 2023). "Cincinnati Reds claim outfielder Bubba Thompson off waivers from Royals". WLWT. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  39. ^ "Reds bring back reliever Buck Farmer on 1-year, $2.25M deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  40. ^ Connon, Sam (January 4, 2024). "New York Yankees Claim Former Texas Rangers Top Prospect Off Waivers". Fastball. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  41. ^ "Yankees Designate Bubba Thompson For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. January 19, 2024.
  42. ^ "Twins Claim Bubba Thompson Off Waivers From Yankees". MLB Trade Rumors. January 24, 2024.
  43. ^ "Twins Claim Zack Weiss, Designate Three Players". MLB Trade Rumors. February 7, 2024.
  44. ^ "Reds Claim Bubba Thompson, Designate Levi Stoudt". MLB Trade Rumors. February 13, 2024.
  45. ^ "Reds' Bubba Thompson: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  46. ^ "Reds announce 2024 Opening Day roster". mlb.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  47. ^ "Reds Designate Bubba Thompson For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  48. ^ "Reds Outright Bubba Thompson". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  49. ^ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/
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