Former Rangers outfielder Bubba Thompson is on the move again

The Cincinnati Reds have made a noteworthy acquisition by claiming outfielder Bubba Thompson off waivers from the Kansas City Royals. Although this development may not directly involve the Texas Rangers or pertain to the World Series, it is still worth sharing.

Thompson, who was originally selected by the Rangers in the first round of the 2017 draft, had an impressive performance in 2022. He showcased his potential by batting .304/.355/.474 in 375 plate appearances for Round Rock, which led to his promotion to the major leagues. In the majors, he maintained a .265/.302/.312 slash line across 181 plate appearances.

Thompson’s speed and defensive abilities appeared to make him well-suited for a bench role in the majors, especially with the rule changes in 2023 that made stealing bases easier. It seemed like Thompson could be a valuable late-inning asset off the bench for the Texas Rangers. Although he initially made the team as a reserve outfielder during spring training, he saw limited playing time and was ultimately sent down to the minors in late May. He briefly returned to the majors after the All-Star Break but only made one appearance as a pinch runner before being sent back down.

Unfortunately, Thompson struggled at the major league level, batting just .170/.237/.283 in 60 plate appearances for the Rangers. In Round Rock, his performance was relatively better, with a slash line of .260/.362/.378. However, in mid-August, he was designated for assignment to accommodate J.P. Martinez on the 40-man roster and was subsequently claimed by the Kansas City Royals.

Even with the change in organizations, Thompson’s fortunes did not improve significantly in AAA, where he batted .259/.313/.410 for the Royals’ affiliate team in Omaha. The Royals designated him for assignment earlier this week, leading to his placement on waivers and eventual claim by the Cincinnati Reds.

It’s possible that Thompson may find himself on the waiver wire again before the offseason concludes. However, if he remains with Cincinnati, he still has options available, allowing the Reds to send him to AAA once more and provide him with an opportunity to regain his form.