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Texas Rangers top 10 prospects for 2019

By Benjamin Chase

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 03: Willie Calhoun #5 of the Texas Rangers hits in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 3, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 03: Willie Calhoun #5 of the Texas Rangers hits in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 3, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /
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5. Bubba Thompson, OF

Birthday: 6/9/1998 (20)
Acquired: Draft, 1st round, 2017
Level(s): low-A Hickory
Statistics: .289/.344/.446, 84 G, 363 PA, 18 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, 32 SB, 6.3% BB, 28.7% K

Like many Texas Rangers draft picks, Bubba Thompson was drafted with extreme athleticism, a first-division athlete that had offers to play high-level Division I football as a quarterback out of high school in Alabama.

Thompson has absolutely flashed the athleticism, with 114 total games in his minor league career, hitting 43 extra base hits and stealing 37 bases. He’s also shown his lack of polish with a low walk rate.

While his polish on defense is not great, Thompson’s speed allows him to overcome that for now. He doesn’t have the greatest arm, but he does understand how to position and is accurate with his throws.

Thompson can put on a show in batting practice with his plus raw power, but he struggles with pitch and zone recognition currently. If he can work to polish his knowledge of the zone and his recognition of spin, he could tap into that power more frequently, and he could have 20 home run, 30 steal sort of upside.

The Texas Rangers are in no rush to push Thompson, so it would not surprise if he opened the season with Hickory. He should have a chance to work his way up through high-A in 2019, reaching the upper minors in 2020.

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