Bubba Thompson, who was a first-round MLB draft pick in 2017, will trade in his glove for a helmet and shoulder pads as he prepares to join the South Alabama Jaguars football team.
He will join the team as a backup for spring practice, South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite told AL.com. He posted a video on his Facebook page of himself throwing a soccer ball on the school soccer field.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Reds center fielder Bubba Thompson steals third base against the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 7, 2024. (Katie Stratman-USA Today Sports)
“We all support you,” he captioned the clip.
Thompson, 26, has experience on the field. He played football while attending McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Alabama, leading the school to a state title game in 2017.
He then committed to the University of Alabama to play baseball. However, he never enrolled in college. Instead, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2017 with their No. 26 overall pick and decided to pursue a Major League career.
UNLV’S DAN MULLEN REVEALS WHY WORKING AS A COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST HAD ITS PERKS
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bubba Thompson hits third during a spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona on February 24, 2024. (Kareem Elgazzar-USA Today Sports)
Thompson didn’t become a superstar. He was a speedster on the basepaths, recording 18 stolen bags in 55 games in 2022. He was with the Rangers in 2023, playing in 37 games. He then joined the Cincinnati Reds last year and played in 17 games.
Because he never enrolled in college, he has five years of eligibility. Rivals rated him as a two-star quarterback coming out of school.
South Alabama was 7-6 last season in Applewhite’s first year. They finished the year with a victory in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
Major Applewhite, head coach of the South Alabama Jaguars, celebrates with his team during the Salute to Veterans Bowl at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama on December 15, 2024. (Jake Crandall/Announcer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Gio Lopez and Bishop Davenport played quarterback for the Jaguars last season.
