"More money?" - Fans react to Rangers' 1st round draft pick Bubba Thompson joining South Alabama football team

Former Texas Rangers’ first-round pick Bubba Thompson is headed back to college, according to Fox Sports: MLB.

Reports indicate that Bubba Thompson will be joining South Alabama’s football team for the upcoming season, opting to forego his opportunity to play in Major League Baseball. Thompon was picked 26th overall by the Rangers in the 2017 MLB draft.

Thompson played in 92 games for the Rangers between 2022-2023, appearing in 17 games for the Cincinnati Reds last year. The news has set off a storm of fan reactions.

Here’s a look at what fans had to say about Bubba Thompson’s decision to go back to college:

“Ridiculous, I know, but we seen crazier things happen,” a fan said.

“More money?” another fan said.

“Man thinks he’s Monte Harrison smh,” one fan said.

However, not all fan reactions poked fun at the situation. Some fans seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the news. Here’s a look at what some of these fans had to say:

“Had to read this a few times. But a big pickup for the South Alabama Jaguars,” a fan said.

“Bubba Thompson RTG in NCAA 26?” another fan said.

“He was def one of the cooler ones you’ll meet,” one fan said.

Thompson will hopefully get on track with the South Alabama football team, potentially turning his sports career into a two-sport one. It remains to be seen if Thompson can play in the Majors under NCAA rules.

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Bubba Thompson from quarterback to outfielder and back

The Dallas Morning News recalled Thompson’s athletic journey in a January 13 piece. The article expounded on how Thompson was one of the top recruits in Alabama, receiving offers from top schools like Ole Miss, UCF and Memphis.

However, Thompson turned down the opportunity to play college football as he was picked 26th overall by the Rangers in the first round of the 2017 Draft.

The piece underscored how the signing bonus for first-round picks in MLB is substantial enough for a player like Thompson to pass on playing college football to pursue a Big League career. Unfortunately for Bubba Thompson, his bat never came around, hitting .111 for the Reds last season.

Overall, Thompson is a career .232 hitting with one home run and 13 RBIs in 241 plate appearances. While not awful, the numbers don’t reflect his first-round status.

Since he never went to college, the 26-year-old will have four full seasons of NCAA eligibility to make a career for himself. Thompson will find a tough challenge at South Alabama as the team’s starting quarterback, Gio Lopez, will be with the team in 2025.

If football doesn’t work out for Thompson, perhaps he might still be able to find a shot with another MLB organization.