The Twins claimed outfielder Bubba Thompson off waivers from the Yankees, per an announcement from the Yankees. He’d been designated for assignment last week in order to open space on the roster for right-hander Luke Weaver. The Twins had a pair of open spots on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move isn’t necessary.
Thompson, 25, is the game’s fastest player by measure of Statcast’s average sprint speed metric (30.4 ft/sec). He’s also one of the sport’s lightest hitters. In 241 career plate appearances at the big league level — all coming with the Rangers, who originally took him in the first round of the 2017 draft — Thompson is a .242/.286/.305 hitter. That modest slash line comes in spite of a hefty .351 average on balls in play and masks (to an extent) a career 29.9% strikeout rate. Thompson’s top-of-the-scale speed is countered by bottom-of-the-scale ratings in terms of average exit velocity (career 84.1 mph) and hard-hit rate (21.9%).
As one might expect for a player with such prodigious wheels, Thompson grades as a sound defender in his limited MLB action. He’s logged 595 innings in the outfield and been credited with a +1 from both Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast’s Outs Above Average. The former high school football star has drawn praise for off-the-chart athleticism dating back to his amateur days, and Baseball America has previously credited him as a plus-plus runner and plus defender in center field while also cautioning that he’s a below-average hitter who lacks consistency from at-bat to at-bat.
It hasn’t yet manifested in game settings, but Thompson draws praise for his above-average raw power. He’s never topped 16 home runs in a single season, however, and he’s only reached double-digit home runs twice in his pro career. He hit six home runs in 362 plate appearances in 2023 — all coming in the minors. Thompson is a career .284/.347/.440 hitter in 677 Triple-A plate appearances and a .268/.329/.436 hitter overall in the minors.
Thompson will give the Twins some depth in center field and a strong defensive alternative in the event that perennial injury risk Byron Buxton isn’t able to suit up in the outfield. Knee surgery limited Buxton exclusively to DH work in 2023, though the organization’s hope is that he can return to the outfield in 2024. As it stands, lefties Matt Wallner and Max Kepler are expected to man the corners at Target Field, although Kepler’s name has once again been floated as in trade rumblings throughout the offseason as Minnesota looks to pare back payroll and Kepler enters the final season of his contract.
Thompson still has a pair of minor league option years remaining, so the Twins can freely shuttle him between Triple-A St. Paul and the big league team this coming season — assuming he sticks on the 40-man roster for the remainder of the offseason. If things go well, he can take help to offset the loss of free agent Michael A. Taylor, though Thompson has a long ways to go before proving he has enough bat to stick on a big league roster with any degree of consistency. If the Twins can succeed in coaxing more out of him at the plate, he can be controlled for another six seasons.
He is closing in on Oliver Drake’s record for DFA’s in a single offseason.
Wasn’t Drake’s DFA-fest during the season? He played for five teams in 2018. Lewin Díaz had a pretty impressive run last offseason, though.
Correct. Drake actually pitched for 5 teams that season. There are usually 1 or 2 guys who change teams 4 or 5 times during an off-season each year, but never before had a player actually played for 5 different teams in a season.
When I visited the Hall of Fame that year they had a display of Drake’s jerseys. I laughed since it was the only way he’d probably get in.
Ha i knew this was you reading the comment before the name, Andy!
When I think of a guy named “Bubba” I’m not usually thinking of a speedster.
I’m not even sure Bubbas are equipped to survive the elements north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Are there shrimp boats in Minnesota?
There’s a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant in the Mall of America
A pinch runner specialist named Bubba?
As long is this is just an experiment during ST I’m fine. If they try to use him as a Michael Taylor replacement I will be very frustrated. I’d take Jake Cave back rather than this guy. And unproven Austin Martin.
What if he hits well enough to make him disruptive on the bases? Its not like he automatically will be a failure. Michael Taylor was a risky sign, himself.
Michael A Taylor came in a trade with Kansas City. Not a signing.
Bubba is an intriguing player. 2 options left… no reason not to try to unlock something in his plate approach.
If the Twins can help him figure out his launch angle (<5%) and teach him some kind of pitch selection — he wouldn't need all that much to leg out some hits. No double clutching on him without paying for it. He's a faster version of Jorge Mateo for the O's and could be a great fill in for Buxton as the article notes.
Gary Pettis Jr… but without the bat.
Minneapolis was once a great city
St Paul was/is much better.
St. Paul and Minneapolis have never been more similar than they are now. Years ago, they were pretty different. Now St. Paul is just Minneapolis with fewer street signs, shorter buildings, a poor skyway and worse parking.
I LIKE
“fastest,”
“Center Fielder,”
“two open router spots,”
and “two options remaining for Bubba.”
Are those open router spots RJ45?
Oops, so I’m not allowed.to edit typos anymore?
I like fastest player in the game. I don’t like the fact he can’t hit. If we see him manning center field in the bigs this year we know we’re in trouble…
I saw him play in low A… wouldn’t say can’t hit. He has some juice in his bat
So Bubba Thompson is basically modern day Billy Hamilton (not HOF Billy Hamilton who last played over 100 years ago)?
Great. Now go re-sign Michael A Taylor
I don’t think that will happen. I don’t think Twins are re signing anyone except foraybe Solano.
Good point, but I’m holding my breath based on the track record. This guy feels un-rosterable as a 4th outfielder. His remaining options give him a good shot, depending on his spring performance.
You can never have too many options, and I’m always up for claiming a guy with options remaining. I just don’t want to count on this guy.
Considering the Twins have precious little CF depth in the minors with the departure of Andrew Stephenson and Gilberto Celestino, I’d wager this is just an emergency depth move. Willi Castro is probably the depth behind Buxton with Gordon being 3rd in line.
Pass the dutchie on the left hand side. Pass the dutchie on the right hand side.