Photo Credit: Kareem Elgazzar / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati Reds Option Former Texas Rangers Prospect to Triple-A

Originally posted on FanNation Fastball | By Sam Connon | Last updated 3/13/24

The Cincinnati Reds have optioned outfielder Bubba Thompson to Triple-A, the team announced Wednesday.

Right-handed pitcher Connor Phillips – who is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in Cincinnati's farm system – was also reassigned to Louisville. Outfielder Conner Capel, infielder Erick Gonzalez and utility man Mark Mathias were reassigned to the minor league camp on top of the Thompson and Phillips moves, trimming the Reds' major league camp to 39 players.

Phillips is sure to reach the big leagues at some point this year or next, but the demotion is a much bigger deal for Thompson, who was once a top prospect with the Texas Rangers.

The 25-year-old is now out of the running for an Opening Day roster spot, having already changed teams five times in the last seven months.

Thompson was batting .353 with an .892 OPS in 11 Cactus League contests down at Spring Training.

The #Reds today announced the following transactions: pic.twitter.com/irdAXP1txR
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) March 13, 2024

A first round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Thompson was once one of the Rangers' most hyped assets. He was pegged as a top-five prospect in Texas' farm system in both 2018 and 2019 before falling all the way to No. 29 by 2022.

Thompson made his big league debut that year, batting .265 with a .613 OPS in 55 games. When he returned to the majors in 2023, however, Thompson hit .170 with a .520 OPS in 37 games.

Left-handed pitchers have limited Thompson to a .165 batting average in the majors, compared to his .285 average against righties. Thompson has at least managed to flash his above-average speed at the MLB level, stealing 22 bases on 27 tries for his career.

Thompson has averaged 20 home runs, 81 RBI and 58 stolen bases per 162 games throughout his career in the minors. As recently as 2022, Thompson hit .304 with an .829 OPS in Triple-A.

After the Rangers designated Thompson for assignment last August, he landed with the Kansas City Royals via waivers. From there, he went to the Reds, the New York Yankees, the Minnesota Twins and back to the Reds just over the course of this offseason.

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

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