Twins Claim Speedy Outfielder Bubba Thompson Off Waivers

[Nick Nelson]

The Twins made another waiver claim on Wednesday, but this time, it's not a bullpen project. Instead, they're gaining some outfield depth and dynamic athleticism with the addition of speedy Bubba Thompson.

Image courtesy of Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Outfielder Bubba Thompson was designated for assignment by the Yankees last week when they made the signing of free agent righthander Luke Weaver official. Five days later, the Twins have added him using one of their open 40-man roster spots.

Thompson is a 25-year-old former first-round draft pick, selected by the Rangers 26th overall back in 2017. (That was the first season after Thad Levine left the Texas front office to join the Twins, in case you were curious.) After rising through the minor-league ranks, he made 181 plate appearances for the Rangers in 2022, slashing .265/.302/.312, and then saw a brief 37-game stint last year, posting a .520 OPS in 60 plate appearances.

The Rangers designated him for assignment last August, and since then, he's passed through three organizations -- Kansas City, Cincinnati, and New York -- before landing with the Twins.

Thompson's turbulent journey up to this point should probably serve as an indicator that his spot on Minnesota's roster is not terribly secure, but he's viewed as an intriguing player, and it's easy to see why the Twins would see him as a fit.

The righty-swinging outfielder's calling card is, and always has been, his speed. He has chart-topping wheels at the prime Byron Buxton/Billy Hamilton level, registering a 100th-percentile sprint speed last season. He's 22-for-27 on stolen base attempts in the majors and went 150-for-181 (82.8%) as a prospect. 

The bat has obviously been less impressive, and his poor discipline makes it tough to see much upside there, but as a bench player, he could potentially fill a valuable role. Thompson has mostly played left field in the majors but has the speed and range to play center, where he's logged 2,500 innings in the minors. It's probably fair to describe him as a very poor man's Michael A. Taylor, with the potential for a little more if he can turn a corner in his late 20s.

Thompson could profile as a potential part-time solution to the Twins' gap in center field this year, along with Buxton, Willi Castro, Nick Gordon, and Austin Martin. Or he could just be a temporary pickup since they have an open spot on the 40-man roster, perhaps until they bring in a more complete solution, like Taylor, who remains a free agent. 

What are your thoughts on this pickup? Do you think Thompson can stick on the roster through spring training and maybe win an Opening Day spot?

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[Vanimal46]

[Heiny]

Highly doubtful.

[Parfigliano]

Wont even stick through spring training.

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

I don't at all love his bat. But reading just his numbers, he had 49 stolen bases at AAA in 2022 in only 80 games.

 

Once again, 49 stolen bases in 80 games. And that's before the bigger bases.

The speed will play, if that is the call. 

[nicksaviking]

Once the Twins settled on their offseason 40 man (35-man at the time), I said I still saw four guys that I thought could still be removed if push came to shove.

So far, three players they have added since, Thompson, Jensen and Staumont, and all would rate well below those players.

[old nurse]

Twins success rate for correcting plate discipline is?  

Maybe he can take lessons from Julian 

[chpettit19]

Would be awfully surprised if he makes it through spring on the 40-man. Wouldn't be as surprised if he makes it through waivers with the Twins as they'll be sending him through at a more chaotic time for rosters than now, but I'll be very surprised if he makes this team. The Twins rotate players way too much to have a speed only guy on the roster. But he is ideal for getting through waivers and then claiming a playoff roster spot to be a late inning steal guy. Or maybe they carry him on the 40-man hoping they never need him during the regular season. But with Rodriguez already on the 40-man you probably don't want another guy who isn't likely to be a real MLB contributor on the 40-man.

[stringer bell]

He has options remaining. I doubt he makes the club out of ST, but he can maybe find it in St. Paul and if he’s around in September, he could be a real asset as a pinch runner/defensive replacement. 

[nicksaviking]

3 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

He has options remaining. I doubt he makes the club out of ST, but he can maybe find it in St. Paul and if he’s around in September, he could be a real asset as a pinch runner/defensive replacement. 

The team always likes to think they'd be an asset off the bench, but whether it's Billy Hamilton, Darin Mastroiani or Jarvis Brown, it always turns out they weren't.

[chpettit19]

7 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

The team always likes to think they'd be an asset off the bench, but whether it's Billy Hamilton, Darin Mastroiani or Jarvis Brown, it always turns out they weren't.

Best case scenario is Terrence Gore/Dave Roberts type pinch runner for the playoffs. No real value during the regular season because they're just not worth carrying as the 13th guy when you use bench players as much as the Twins do as regular starters.

[ashbury]

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that the Twins have taught me how to hit the curveball."

Well, we can dream, anyway.

[DJL44]

Not sure where he plays in St. Paul with Martin and Kiersey both likely to start the season there.

[old nurse]

5 minutes ago, ashbury said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that the Twins have taught me how to hit the curveball."

Well, we can dream, anyway.

Hopefully your quote can be signed by Larnach

[nicksaviking]

11 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Best case scenario is Terrence Gore/Dave Roberts type pinch runner for the playoffs. No real value during the regular season because they're just not worth carrying as the 13th guy when you use bench players as much as the Twins do as regular starters.

I've seen that one before, and I don't like it either.

Down by one, Julien on 1st with one out in the 8th and he's pinch run for by Thompson, which is silly because in 95% of all outcomes, both Julien and Thompson would be standing on the same base no matter what transpires next.

Then they need Julien's bat in the 10th and the options are Thompson or Christian Vazquez.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

I've seen that one before, and I don't like it either.

Down by one, Julien on 1st with one out in the 8th and he's pinch run for by Thompson, which is silly because in 95% of all outcomes, both Julien and Thompson would be standing on the same base no matter what transpires next.

Then they need Julien's bat in the 10th and the options are Thompson or Christian Vazquez.

100 times out of 100. 

[chpettit19]

5 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I've seen that one before, and I don't like it either.

Down by one, Julien on 1st with one out in the 8th and he's pinch run for by Thompson, which is silly because in 95% of all outcomes, both Julien and Thompson would be standing on the same base no matter what transpires next.

Then they need Julien's bat in the 10th and the options are Thompson or Christian Vazquez.

You really think someone like Thompson isn't a better threat to steal a base, thus making the pitcher pay more attention to him, or score on a double from 1st than Julien? And chances are Julien was already pulled, or would be pulled, for a pinch hitter when the other team brings in their lefty anyways. Why isn't Farmer the hitter? Why are we only provided with the 2 worst options on the bench?

I'm not saying this is some sort of great signing, or that he's some key piece to a championship run, but when you're carrying 14 or 15 position players in the playoffs there's room for a guy who can swipe a bag whenever you need it. The '04 Red Sox sure are glad they had Roberts.

[Riverbrian]

I assume that the die has been cast. 

However... playing devils advocate to that cast die and to offer a shred of positivity. 

His MLB AB's total 223 and those AB's were scattered over two seasons so he may not have really had the chance to settle into a major league batters box. 

Down in the minors... his numbers don't look so bad at all. Even a little bit of home run pop.  

I'm not betting on him but... I wouldn't just throw him in the waste paper basket either. 

In the end... It's up to him to show the club that he deserves a chance to show the club and if that happens... it really comes down to the question... will the Twins believe what he is showing. 

If I had to bet... He will end up a 40 man causality before the roster is final and that will happen when a player just a little bit better becomes available. 

[Parfigliano]

33 minutes ago, ashbury said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that the Twins have taught me how to hit the curveball."

Well, we can dream, anyway.

Teach that to Larnach 1st.

[jmlease1]

As a back-end of the 40-man...this is fine, I guess? But he definitely feels like an easy cut during spring training when you either want to add a player during the cut-down flurry and hope he slides through waivers. I don't see a problem in bringing in a guy who has an elite tool (speed) and seeing whether you can iron out something else to make him useful. Maybe he and Kiersey can start a sprint league or something, with Buxton standing by telling everyone he's still faster than both of them but the team would get mad if he ran for fun.

Marginal but somewhat intriguing, with little downside to bringing him in.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

He has had 2 poor seasons in the MLB,  Jose Miranda anyone?   I wouldn't stick a fork in him yet.  He had an OPS of .820 in AAA in 2022 and .733 OPS in 2023.   The bat is likely light.  A new environment may work,  but he has to make it through the next 3 months, and I would put that at 50/50.   Likely just filling a spot with a lottery ticket and hoping something clicks.  He would fill a niche, a speedy RH outfielder.  Similar to Castro last year.  We picked him on a minor league deal.   Speed kills in the current game play evidenced by Arizona.   No one expected Castro to perform as well as he did.  We are clearly still in the season of picking up as many of these reclamation projects as possible.  Most won't work but every once in a while you find someone like Castro in these minor deals.  

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Look at the article on Willie Castro last year.   Pretty similar feelings,  and so little notice on him it got a total of 3 responses LOL. 

 

[DJL44]

27 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

You really think someone like Thompson isn't a better threat to steal a base, thus making the pitcher pay more attention to him, or score on a double from 1st than Julien? And chances are Julien was already pulled, or would be pulled, for a pinch hitter when the other team brings in their lefty anyways. Why isn't Farmer the hitter? Why are we only provided with the 2 worst options on the bench?

I'm not saying this is some sort of great signing, or that he's some key piece to a championship run, but when you're carrying 14 or 15 position players in the playoffs there's room for a guy who can swipe a bag whenever you need it. The '04 Red Sox sure are glad they had Roberts.

Julien isn't the guy I'd pinch run for. He's not a bad baserunner. Jeffers, however...

[RpR]

Gee, Bily Hamilton must have been taken already.

[Mike Sixel]

36 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Julien isn't the guy I'd pinch run for. He's not a bad baserunner. Jeffers, however...

But, that's what they did last year....that was the point of the post. It wasn't about what we'd do, but what they actually did.

[Danchat]

40 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Look at the article on Willie Castro last year.   Pretty similar feelings,  and so little notice on him it got a total of 3 responses LOL. 

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

You really think someone like Thompson isn't a better threat to steal a base, thus making the pitcher pay more attention to him, or score on a double from 1st than Julien?

I think the issue here is that Castro is back and would be the pinch runner in these scenarios, not Thompson. Castro also at least had a history of being able to be a good enough utility defender around the infield at the major league level, while Thompson is just another outfielder. We have a guy just like him in the minors - DaShawn Keirsey - who is a very similar player. 

The only fit I see for Thompson is being stashed at AAA and used if injuries hit the likes of Castro / Martin / Keirsey. Basically a Billy Hamilton / 2020 Aaron Whitefield scenario.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

However... playing devils advocate to that cast die and to offer a shred of positivity. 

I would like to shred some positivity too.

It will be fun watching him play.

 

[jorgenswest]

He has played much more left field than center field in the majors. Is that due to his arm or circumstance or maybe both? It makes me wonder about his arm.

His barrel rate of 1.9% and hard hit rate of 21.9% are incredibly low. Unlike slash stats which can take multiple seasons, statcast hard hit rate stabilize pretty quickly. It is possible to be successful in this range. Steven Kwan is an example and maybe the only real example. Kwan does it with a strike out rate at 10% and an in zone contact rate of 95%. Thompson is at 29.9% and 75%. That isn’t going to work with his hard hit rate and that data is pretty stable at his 241 PA sample. I am curious if his hard hit rate or barrel rate was significantly different in the minors.

[jorgenswest]

11 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

But, that's what they did last year....that was the point of the post. It wasn't about what we'd do, but what they actually did.

Didn’t he have a hamstring injury from August through the end of the season? I know they pinch hit Farmer for him but did they pinch run for him prior to that injury.

[darin617]

As much as this pains me to say, just sign Aaron Hicks to a one year contract. It would be league minimum since NYY cut him with 2 years remaining. It's the best option for the penny pinching Pohlads.