Bubba Thompson #8

Selected in the first round (No. 26 overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers out of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Alabama... full name is Leslie Arnold Thompson... was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) Player of the Year and was a First Team All-State selection… rated by Baseball America as the top prospect from Alabama, the 8th-best outfielder, and the 25th-best prospect overall… hit .429 with 11 HR, 35 RBIs and 18 SB, while posting an .857 SLG as a senior at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Ala… led the Yellow Jackets to a 2015 Class 7A state title on the gridiron and had scholarship offers from SEC schools… had committed to the University of Alabama for baseball… chosen as the best high school athlete in the draft by _Perfect Game_… was one of four amateur players to attend the 2017 MLB Draft at MLB Network’s Studio 42... was leading all Triple-A players in stolen bases (49) with Round Rock when he was promoted to Texas on Aug. 4, 2022 to make his Major League debut.

2021

Set career-highs in most categories with Double-A Frisco, slashing .275/.325/.483/.808 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI over 104 games…ranked among Double-A Central leaders in triples (1st, 9), total bases (2nd, 207), hits (T2nd, 118), runs (T4th, 73), doubles (T5th, 23), stolen bases (7th, 25), and SLG (10th, .483)...selected as a Double-A Central All-Star...hit .297 (30-101) with 14 XBH over his final 24 G beginning 8/22...was selected as a co-winner of the 2021 True Ranger Award, which was established in 2019 and highlights players who represent the core values of the organization in a positive light both on and off the field… tabbed as the Rangers’ no. 27 prospect by _Baseball America_…was a non-roster invitee to Major League spring training for the first time.

2020

Did not see official game action after the minor league season was canceled due to the pandemic…went 1-for-2 with a single as a pinch-hitter in two Spring Training ‘A’ games prior to the COVID-19 shutdown…was added to Texas’ 60-man player pool roster on 8/31 after he was not selected to the initial Summer Camp roster in July…participated in Alternate Training Site workouts and scrimmages at Globe Life Park and Globe Life Field from that point until the end of the regular season (9/27)…in October, joined a contingent of Rangers’ prospects at Fall Developmental League in Arizona…slashed .190/.327/.429/.755 (16-84) with a camp-high 13 stolen bases…also ranked among club leaders in HBP (1st, 5), HR (T1st, 4), RBI (2nd, 14) and walks (T3rd, 13).

2019

Limited to 57 G with Down East due to pair of injured list stints: 4/17-6/12 (fractured hamate bone in left hand) and 6/22-7/13 (ankle injury)…batted .281 (18-64) in 1st 17 G following return from 2nd IL stint, but batted .134 (11-82) in final 24 G…had just one plate appearance against a pitcher younger than himself…recorded his 1st career multi-HR game on 8/27 vs. Frederick (2 HR)…batted .254 (18-71) with three HR and nine RBI in 21 G with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, and was named to the AFL Fall Stars Game...rated at the start of the season as the 48th-best prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus and the organization’s 9th-best prospect, “Fastest Baserunner” and “Best Athlete” according to Baseball America.

2018

Fell 15 PA shy of qualifying for a batting title in the South Atlantic League, but posted the 6th-highest average among players in the league with at least 350 PA...finished with the 3rd-most SB in the SAL...began the season in extended spring training and joined Hickory on 5/9...batted .240/.307/.408/.715 in 1st 32 G with the Crawdads and .319/.367/.469/.836 over final 52 games...following the season, was tabbed the 5th-best prospect in the SAL by Baseball America and was named a Texas Organization All-Star by MiLB.com.

2017

Batted .257/.317/.434/.751 (29-113) with the AZL Rangers in his professional debut...tabbed as 6th-best prospect in the Arizona League by Baseball America.