Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bubba Thompson is set to pursue college football at South Alabama in 2025. The 26-year-old athlete was an all-state quarterback at McGill-Toolen Catholic School in 2016, but has spent the last eight years playing professional baseball.
Thompson, a former first-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2017, has played in the MLB for the past three seasons with both the Rangers and Reds. However, his performance at the major league level has been modest, posting a .232 batting average, .273 on-base percentage, and .295 slugging percentage, with one home run, 13 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases across 109 games.
Thompson did not attend college, so he is eligible to play four seasons of college football over five years. His decision to return to football casts doubt on his future in baseball. In seven minor-league seasons, he posted a .263 batting average with 52 home runs, 226 RBIs, and 165 stolen bases in 486 games.
Thompson, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 197 pounds, will be shifting gears to try his hand at football in 2025.
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