Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Could take over in center field
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Thompson is a candidate to handle center field for the Rangers while Leody Taveras (oblique) is sidelined.
Taveras has a low-grade oblique strain, which has his status for Opening Day up in the air. Thompson might have been on the outside looking in for a roster spot if Taveras had been healthy, but he's probably the team's best defensive option in center field for as long as Taveras is sidelined. While his ability with the bat is still in question, Thompson's ability to steal bases would make him a viable fantasy option in deep leagues if he's getting regular at-bats. Texas could also consider moving Adolis Garcia from right field to center.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Shows off legs
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Thompson went 0-for-2 with a walk and stole a base in Sunday's spring game against the Angels.
Thompson was scratched Saturday due to tightness in his legs, but he showed no issue with his lower half during Sunday's game. The player who stole 18 bags in 55 games last season reached base twice and attempted to steal each time. Thompson also made a sliding catch to help starter Cole Ragans escape a third-inning jam. The 24-year-old outfielder started in center field, as the Rangers were without projected starter Leody Taveras (side discomfort). Thompson has the most experience in center among the spare outfielders vying for a roster spot, and that experience could give him an advantage over someone like Brad Miller.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Returns to lineup Sunday
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Thompson is leading off and playing center field Sunday against the Angels in Cactus League play.
Thompson was scheduled to have the day off after being scratched Saturday due to tightness in his legs, but after Leody Taveras was scratched from the lineup Sunday due to left side tightness, the speedy outfielder was called into action. Considering the time of year and the exhibition nature of Cactus League games, Thompson is obviously feeling healthy and should be fine for the start of the campaign.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Scratched Saturday
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Thompson was scratched Saturday due to tightness in his legs, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Thompson made a noteworthy contribution in his MLB debut last season, swiping 18 bases over 55 games. However, it's unclear if there's a spot for him on the major-league roster to start 2023. He has the most center-field experience among the Rangers' depth outfielders, so he could give Leody Taveras a break when needed, but the team may want him to get regular playing time at Triple-A Round Rock. In that case, right fielder Adolis Garcia would cover center when Taveras sits.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Out of Sunday's lineup
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Thompson is not in Sunday's lineup against the Guardians.
Thompson, who is hitting .292 with 21 strikeouts, four walks and nine steals in 22 games this month, has started three of the last five games for Texas. Kole Calhoun is starting at designated hitter while Adolis Garcia mans right field.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Closes in on 20 steals
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Thompson went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Guardians.
Thompson led off the fifth inning with a single and stole his 17th base, putting himself in scoring position with none out, but the top of the lineup couldn't deliver him. He's attempted nine steals over the last 13 games, putting him on pace to reach 20 steals over the final 12 contests of the season.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Heads to bench Thursday
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Thompson is not in Thursday's lineup against the Angels.
Thompson is hitting .293/.339/.345 with zero home runs and eight steals through 19 games in September. Kole Calhoun will enter the lineup Thursday and bat eighth.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Gets on base, steals bag
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Thompson went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay.
Thompson stole his 16th base of the season in the third inning, reaching second base with one out, but the Rangers could not deliver him home. It was his sixth steal in the last eight games.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Caught stealing in ninth
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Thompson entered Wednesday's game as a pinch runner and was caught stealing in the Rangers' 8-7 loss to the Athletics.
Thompson ran for Nathaniel Lowe in the ninth inning and nearly got himself into scoring position. He appeared to have successfully stolen second base but over-slid the bag and was ruled out via video review. It was just the second time in 17 attempts that Thompson's been caught stealing this year.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Adds SB in nightcap
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Thompson went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in a 10-6 loss to the Marlins in the second game of Monday's doubleheader.
After swiping his 14th bag in the matinee, Thompson followed up with his 15th in the nightcap. He's been on a spree of late, notching five steals over four games. Thompson's wringing a lot of value from an unsustainable .419 BABIP, which props up a .288 average and .342 OBP.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Swipes 14th bag
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Thompson went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in a 3-2 win over the Marlins in the first game of Monday's doubleheader.
The 24-year-old rookie is up to 14 steals in 15 attempts through his first 34 big-league games, including four in the last three contests. Thompson is also swinging a hot bat, collecting six hits with three doubles in the last four games and batting .339 (19-for-56) over his last 18.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Moves to right field
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Thompson started in right field and went 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-7 loss to Toronto.
Thompson's made a home in left field since being called up in August but moved to right field the last two games to make room for Josh Smith. Right field is normally the spot of Adolis Garcia, who was held out of the starting lineup Friday and moved to designated hitter Saturday. It's unclear if interim manager Tony Beasley plans a platoon in left field between Thompson and Smith. If that were the case, the right-hitting Thompson would be on the short side of the job share.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Scores lone run
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Thompson went 1-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 9-1 loss to Boston.
Thompson was responsible for the Rangers' lone run in the third inning, putting himself in scoring position by stealing second base and coming home on a Corey Seager single. An inning later, following a walk, he was picked off first base, so the outfielder is looking to run any time he gets on base. The swipe was Thompson's 10th over 25 games since having his contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: On base three times
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Thompson went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 9-8 loss to Boston.
Thompson stole his ninth base in 24 games and is proving to be a valuable late-season addition for fantasy rosters. He has just four walks during his time in the majors but is getting on base at a .388 clip since mid-August while benefiting from a .392 BABIP.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Launches first MLB homer
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Thompson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Houston.
Thompson tattooed a Framber Valdez sinker, sending it 433 feet out above the fence in left field. It was the first home run in the majors for Thompson, who's known more for his 70-grade speed and rarely gets to jog around the bases. Not letting the homer get to his head, Thompson laid down a bunt single on his next plate appearance. This was Thompson's 11th start in left field over the last 14 contests, including six against right-handed starters. It's safe to assume he's moved ahead of Kole Calhoun as the primary left fielder.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Swipes eighth bag
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Thompson pinch ran and stole a base in a 9-8 loss Sunday against Detroit.
Thompson ran for Nathaniel Lowe in the ninth inning and immediately stole a base. It was his eighth theft in as many tries in his 21 games with the Rangers. Combined between the majors and Triple-A, the speedster has swiped 57 bags in 60 attempts through 101 games. He's started 19 of 23 games since joining Texas and should continue to see regular playing time.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: On bench again vs. righty
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Thompson remains out of the lineup for Monday's game in Minnesota.
The righty-hitting Thompson's absence from the lineup for a second straight game in which the Rangers have faced a right-handed pitcher (Sonny Gray) seemingly confirms that he'll move into a short-side platoon role in the wake of the lefty-hitting Kole Calhoun coming off the injured list Sunday. Since making his MLB debut Aug. 4, Thompson has provided five stolen bases in 16 games but has offered little else (.250 average, zero home runs, five RBI and three runs).
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: May fall into platoon role
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Thompson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
Since his Aug. 4 call-up from Triple-A Round Rock, Thompson had started in all but one of the Rangers' subsequent 16 games while slashing .250/.304/.269 with five stolen bases, five RBI and two runs. At least against right-handed pitching, the righty-hitting Thompson's run of regular starts looks like it could come to an end, as the Rangers reinstated lefty-hitting corner outfielder Kole Calhoun (heel) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. Calhoun, Leody Taveras and Adolis Garcia will likely form Texas' outfield from left to right in most games against right-handed pitching moving forward.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Steals fourth base Wednesday
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Thompson went 1-for-4 with one steal in Wednesday's 7-2 loss against Oakland.
Thompson showed off his legs in the second inning as he reached base via a bunt single and then proceeded to steal second base. The speedy outfielder now has four stolen bases for Texas after swiping 49 bags at Triple-A Round Rock this season. Thompson also hit .301 with Round Rock compared to his .238 average in the majors thus far, so it is possible he could provide value in both batting average and stolen bases down the stretch.
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Rangers' Bubba Thompson: Delivers two-out run
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Thompson went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Monday's 2-1 win over the Athletics.
Thompson brought Leody Taveras home from third base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to provide the game-winning run. He's hit safely and knocked in runs in three straight games. The 24-year-old rookie has made a small splash as a base-stealer, having swiped three bags over his first 10 games in the majors, but is having an issue getting on base (one walk, .270 OBP) while striking out too much (39.5 K%).
