Texas Rangers Prospect Radar: Bubba Thompson

As one of the Texas Rangers 2017 first round draft picks, Bubba Thompson shows upside in all aspects of the game and presents a bright future for the club.

Throughout this series we’re taking a look at the Rangers top prospects according to MLB.com Prospect Watch. We’re working our way from the top to the bottom of the list. Texas invested a first round pick in Bubba Thompson and are hoping that he can turn into a long-term star.

Background

Bubba Thompson was drafted number 26 overall in the 2017 draft out of high school. Thompson is one of a number of outfielders near the top of the Rangers prospects list. He’s currently listed as the 6th prospect in the organization. At 6’2″ and 180 pounds, Thompson has a lean, athletic frame that allows him to excel in various aspects of the game.

Scouting Report

Athletically built, Thompson is a pretty balanced player across the board for the Rangers. Considering he’s only 19 years old, I also wouldn’t be surprised if he puts on weight in his time in the minors. Bubba both hits and throws right handed and offers quality contact and power from the right side. As a hitter, Thompson is graded as an average contact and power hitter. His most impressive tool is his speed which is considered plus-plus. Defensively he’s considered a plus player with a good arm and a good glove.

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Minor League Service

Because he was drafted just last year, Thompson’s minor league service time is fairly limited. He spent the 2017 season in Single-A Hickory and was limited by some injuries but showed promise. In 6 games, Thompson hit an impressive .320 with a .370 on-base percentage.

Expectations

Bubba Thompson is still awhile away from cracking the Major League roster. At only 19, he still has a number of areas where he can improve before being top quality. I wouldn’t be surprised if Thompson is still in the minors come the 2021 season and gets the call up at some point during that season.