Bubba Thompson makes MLB debut with Rangers
FRISCO, Texas (August 5, 2022) - Former Riders outfielder Bubba Thompson made his Major League debut with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, August 4th, against the Chicago White Sox. In his debut, Thompson went 1-for-3 with a bunt single for his first Major League hit. Thompson was drafted out of
FRISCO, Texas (August 5, 2022) - Former Riders outfielder Bubba Thompson made his Major League debut with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, August 4th, against the Chicago White Sox.
In his debut, Thompson went 1-for-3 with a bunt single for his first Major League hit.
Thompson was drafted out of the Alabama high school ranks in the first round of the 2017 draft (26th overall). The outfielder's speed carried him through his first full season in 2018, stealing 32 bases for Low-A Hickory before multiple injuries, including a broken hamate bone and ankle injury, sidelined him for the majority of 2019.
Finally healthy in 2021, Thompson broke out in Frisco. The outfielder was voted as a Double-A Central Postseason All-Star, hitting .275/.325/.483 with a career-high 23 doubles, 16 home runs, 52 RBIs and 73 runs scored over 104 games. He also swiped 25 bases.
In 2022, beginning the season with Triple-A Round Rock, Thompson went wild on the bases, stealing an Express franchise record 49 bases while hitting .304/.355/.474 with 13 home runs.
Thompson debuted alongside 2016 first-round pick Cole Ragans, making them the first two first-round selections to debut in the same game since San Francisco's Will Clark and Robby Thompson debuted together on April 8th, 1986 at Houston.
Thompson becomes the 184th former Riders player to make his major league debut, joining Christian Lopes, Jacob Lemoine, Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran, Steele Walker, Elier Hernandez, Charles Leblanc and Cole Ragans to become the ninth former RoughRiders player to crack the majors in 2022.
For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance for 15 consecutive seasons (2005-2019). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 170 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].