Thompson cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Double-A Chattanooga, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Thompson was pushed off the 40-man roster Thursday but will remain within the Reds organization after going unclaimed off waivers. He is slashing .200/.243/.314/ across 37 plate appearances since being sent down to Double-A and could reach Triple-A if his hitting improves, though a return to the big leagues seems unlikely at the moment.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Moves off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Reds designated Thompson for assignment Thursday.
Since the end of the 2023 season, Thompson has now been DFA'd on four occasions; twice by the Reds, and one apiece by the Yankees and Twins. Thompson won a spot on the Reds' Opening Day roster and hit .111 over 18 at-bats in 17 games before he was sent to Double-A Chattanooga on May 7. The 25-year-old outfielder had posted a .557 OPS in nine games since reporting to Chattanooga and was deemed expendable from the 40-man roster with the Reds opting to clear a spot for right-hander Brett Kennedy, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Sent packing to minors
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Thompson to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Thompson has been on the Reds' roster since Opening Day but has hardly played, accumulating just 18 plate appearances. He should receive more reps at Louisville.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Late insert to lineup
Rotowire
Thompson started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a double in Monday's 10-8 win over the Brewers.
Originally held out of the starting nine, Thompson was a late addition as part of a shuffle following Jonathan India's leg injury suffered during pregame warmups. It was the second consecutive start for Thompson, who is 2-for-8 with four steals over eight games. He's mostly been used as a pinch runner.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Makes first start
Rotowire
Thompson started in center field and went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Mets.
Thompson made his first start of the season and stole his fourth base. The speedy outfielder had served as a pinch runner over his first six appearances and stole his first three bases in that role.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Role being defined
Rotowire
Thompson entered as a pinch runner, stole a base and scored a run in Monday's 6-3 extra-inning win over the Phillies.
Thompson pinch-ran for Luke Maile as the designated runner to start the 10th inning and immediately stole third base before trotting home on Spencer Steer's grand slam. It was the third consecutive game in which Thompson entered as a pinch runner and stole a base. The role suits the speedy Thompson, who has a .286 on-base percentage during his time in the majors. It appears this will be his job for as long as TJ Friedl (wrist) remains sidelined.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Logs second steal
Rotowire
Thompson entered as a pinch runner and stole a base in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Nationals.
For the second straight game, Thompson entered as a pinch runner and stole a base. His stay with the team may be a short one -- TJ Friedl (wrist) could return by May 1 -- but Thompson's speed could be helpful while he's on the roster.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Logs steal in loss
Rotowire
Thompson entered Saturday's game as a pinch runner, stole a base and scored a run in a 7-6 loss to the Nationals.
Thompson may not play a significant role for the Reds, but his speed could be useful. He's two years removed from stealing 18 bases in 55 games for the Rangers. He can also play center field, a position in flux after TJ Friedl (wrist) opened the season on the injured list.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Joins big-league roster
Rotowire
The Reds recalled Thompson from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old was optioned to Louisville in mid-March but ended up earning a place on the Opening Day roster after he posted an .828 OPS in 15 games during spring training. Thompson should serve as a reserve outfielder with TJ Friedl (wrist) set to miss the first month of the season.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: In mix for final roster spot
Rotowire
Thompson is in the mix for the final roster spot, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
The Reds trimmed their roster Friday and are at 25 players with the need to add another. Thompson and Jacob Hurtubise, both of whom were reassigned to minor-league camp earlier this spring, are the most logical candidates -- they're on the 40-man roster and fill the team's greatest need in the outfield. Alternatively, Cincinnati could look outside the organization, monitoring roster cuts by other teams over the weekend.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Thompson to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Thompson has slashed .353/.421/.471 this spring but wasn't able to break into the Reds' crowded outfield. He'll play regularly at Louisville, with most of those starts likely to come in center field.
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Yankees' Bubba Thompson: Lands with Yankees via waivers
Rotowire
The Yankees claimed Thompson off waivers from the Reds on Thursday.
Thompson has slashed just .242/.286/.305 in 241 career major-league plate appearances but offers plus speed and the ability to play all three outfield positions. The 25-year-old first-round pick will compete for a reserve role in spring training.
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Reds' Bubba Thompson: Claimed by Cincinnati
Rotowire
Cincinnati claimed Thompson off waivers from the Royals on Thursday.
The former Rangers prospect was let go by Texas this past August and finished out the 2023 season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha. Thompson has great speed and is only 25 years old, but he owns a weak .242/.286/.305 batting line with one home run in 241 career major-league plate appearances.
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Royals' Bubba Thompson: Claimed by KC
Rotowire
The Royals claimed Thompson off waivers from Texas on Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Omaha.
The Rangers DFA'd Thompson on Friday after he slashed just .170/.237/.283 through 60 plate appearances in the majors. The former top prospect will now get a second chance with the Royals, but he will have to prove himself with their Triple-A affiliate in Omaha before cracking the major-league lineup.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Thompson was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Friday.
Texas selected Thompson as the 26th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft out of an Alabama high school and he ranked as a top-100 prospect at one point, but the 25-year-old outfielder is now off the 40-man roster after slashing just .242/.286/.305 in 241 major-league plate appearances since his debut in August of 2022. He'll be an intriguing reclamation project for some club as he heads into DFA limbo. J.P. Martinez is joining the Rangers in a corresponding move.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Optioned to Round Rock
Rotowire
Texas optioned Thompson to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.
This move opens up a 26-man roster spot for catcher Austin Hedges, who was acquired from the Pirates ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Thompson, 25, has slashed just .170/.237/.283 in 37 games this season at the major-league level.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Gets rare start
Rotowire
Thompson started in left field and went 0-for-3 in Monday's 5-0 win over Detroit.
Thompson made his first start since May 12 and was eventually removed for pinch hitter Travis Jankowski. With Mitch Garver's (knee) pending activation expected this week, Thompson's spot on the roster is in jeopardy. He's 8-for-51 (.157) over 35 games.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Fills in, steals bag
Rotowire
Thompson entered Saturday's game after left fielder Josh Smith was removed due to foot soreness. He went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base in a 5-0 win over Oakland
Thompson walked for the third time in the last two games and stole a base in each contest. The light-hitting outfielder had walked once over his first 45 plate appearances before his three free passes over the last six PAs. With the Athletics scheduled to throw right-hander Drew Rucinski on Sunday, it's likely Texas will deploy the lefty-hitting Robbie Grossman in left instead of Thompson.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Steals, scores in loss
Rotowire
Thompson went 0-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 9-7 extra-inning loss to Oakland.
Thompson made his first start in seven games, which is appropriate for a player hitting .178. He's reached base 11 times (eight hits, three walks) over 49 plate appearances and attempted four steals (caught once). Thompson's always looking to run, so the two walks were an encouraging sign.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Collects two hits in win
Rotowire
Thompson started in left field, going 2-for-4 and was caught stealing in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Yankees.
Thompson, who made his first start in five games, entered the contest with one hit over his last 17 at-bats. He's always a threat to steal but getting on base has been problematic for Thompson, who has one walk and a .258 OBP over 32 plate appearances. Travis Jankowski, who started in center field for a resting Leody Taveras on Saturday, has emerged as a semi-regular, which makes Thompson's roster spot precarious. When Corey Seager (hamstring) returns, Thompson could be sent down while either Josh Smith or Ezequiel Duran remain to serve as the fifth outfielder.
