Bubba Thompson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bubba Thompson
Thompson with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
Outfielder
Born: (1998-06-09) June 9, 1998 (age 27) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
August 4, 2022, for the Texas Rangers
Last appearance
May 4, 2024, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Batting average	.232
Home runs	1
Runs batted in	13
Stolen bases	27
Teams
Texas Rangers (2022–2023) Cincinnati Reds (2024)

Bubba Thompson, born on June 9, 1998, is an American athlete. He played professional baseball as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He also played college football as a quarterback for the South Alabama Jaguars. The Texas Rangers chose him in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft. He played for the Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds.

Early Life and High School Sports

Bubba Thompson grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He went to McGill–Toolen Catholic High School. There, he was a star in both baseball and American football.

Baseball Achievements in High School

As a junior in high school, Bubba was a great baseball player. He had a very high batting average of .469. He also stole 19 stolen bases, showing his speed.

Football Success in High School

In his senior year of football, Bubba was the team's quarterback. He led his team to the Class 7A state championship game. He threw for over 3,000 yards and scored 38 touchdowns. He played alongside Jalen Tolbert, who later became an NFL wide receiver.

College Choices for Bubba Thompson

Bubba first planned to play college baseball at Auburn University. Later, he changed his mind and decided to go to the University of Alabama. He also had offers to play college football from other big schools.

Getting Drafted into Major League Baseball

Many experts thought Bubba Thompson was one of the best young players. He was a top pick for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. The Texas Rangers picked him as the 26th player overall in the first round.

Professional Baseball Career

After being drafted, Bubba Thompson signed with the Texas Rangers. He began his professional journey in their minor league system.

Starting with the Texas Rangers Minor League Teams

Bubba started playing for the AZL Rangers in 2017. He hit three home runs and had 12 RBIs in 30 games. In 2018, he played for the Hickory Crawdads. He had a good batting average of .289. He also hit eight home runs and stole 32 bases.

Dealing with Injuries and Progress

In 2019, Bubba played for the Down East Wood Ducks. He had a tough year because of a broken bone in his hand. He still managed to hit five home runs and steal 12 bases. In 2020, he did not play because the minor league season was canceled.

Moving Up the Ranks

In 2021, Bubba played for the Frisco RoughRiders. He hit 16 home runs and stole 25 bases. He was recognized with the Rangers' True Ranger Award. In 2022, he started with the Round Rock Express. He hit 13 home runs and stole an amazing 49 bases. This was a record for Round Rock.

Making His Major League Debut

On August 4, 2022, Bubba Thompson was called up to the Texas Rangers. He made his first MLB game against the Chicago White Sox. He got his first hit in that game. Later, on August 30, he hit his first career home run.

Playing in the Major Leagues

In 2022, Bubba played in 37 games for the Rangers. He had a batting average of .265. He also stole 18 bases, which was one of the best rates in the American League. He was known for being one of the fastest players in baseball. In 2023, he played in 37 games for Texas.

Moving to Other Teams

In August 2023, Bubba joined the Kansas City Royals. He played for their Triple-A team, the Omaha Storm Chasers. He hit four home runs and stole 11 bases there. In October 2023, the Cincinnati Reds claimed him. He was later claimed by the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins before returning to the Reds in February 2024. He played 17 games for the Reds in 2024.

Football Career

On January 12, 2025, Bubba Thompson announced he was leaving baseball. He decided to go to college at the University of South Alabama. He planned to try out for the football team as a walk-on player.