Thompson's defense could earn him roster spot

MESA, Ariz. -- The Rangers are in an unusually stable situation at this point in the spring, with all four infield spots from the end of last season set for Opening Day and two of the three outfield spots more or less locked in.

Looking at the roster's construction, Bubba Thompson’s case to make the Opening Day roster may be the most intriguing. Leody Taveras being out with a left oblique injury for at least the next two weeks makes it even more interesting.

Manager Bruce Bochy hopes Thompson can seize control of the position if Taveras isn’t ready for Opening Day, but Thompson’s role on the club isn’t certain, as he’s fighting a number of outfield options in camp, including non-roster invitees Clint Frazier and Travis Jankowski.

The easiest solution is simply to plug the second-year outfielder into Taveras’ spot in the lineup. Before Taveras’ injury, Thompson was expected to either serve as the fourth outfielder on the big league squad due to his stellar defensive capabilities or get every day at-bats with Triple-A Round Rock.

Now, he’s right in the thick of the competition.

“Bubba’s a really, really talented player whose defense is probably slightly ahead of his offense,” general manager Chris Young said. “But we feel very confident in his ability to be a contributing member of our team. And while recognizing that he's young and does not have much time in the big leagues and is still developing, we think he's ready for the challenge, whether it's the beginning of the season or at some point during the season.”

But when evaluating whether Thompson should start the season on the big league club, the coaching staff needs to weigh whether it’s more valuable for him to get everyday at-bats in Triple-A or start just a few times a week with Texas. Taveras’ injury may change that, but it’s still a question to ponder.

Thompson's situation isn't unique. It's an ongoing consideration for any first- or second-year player.

“It’s different from player to player, but first of all, you have to look at the needs of the Major League club, that’s where it starts,” Bochy said last week. “If you have somebody that’s close or comparable to the player you’re talking about, you may want [them] to get those reps down in Triple-A, it’s a little easier decision. But if you have a need for a spot, that can force your hand a little bit … especially if you look at a team that wants to contend.”

And it’s well-known that Thompson’s speed can help the Rangers contend. While he slashed just .265/.302/.312 in 55 games in the Majors in 2022, his production went far beyond the numbers. His slash line won't blow Texas out of the water, but Thompson is a player who piles up infield hits and forces errors with his speed.

More importantly, when he does get on base, he makes it count. In 2022, Thompson stole 49 bases in 80 games with Triple-A Round Rock and 18 more after making his MLB debut on Aug. 4.

Thompson had the second-highest sprint speed in the Majors last year at 30.4 feet per second. The Major League average on a "competitive" play is 27 ft/sec, with 30 ft/sec qualifying as elite. He logged 44 bolts, which is any sprint above 30 ft/sec.

“I think you have to look at that weapon,” Bochy said. “... We have Jankowski, a similar-type guy, but they’re different. You have left/right [splits]. That’s always nice to have, especially when you have a tendency to play a lot of one-run games. But these are things that are being talked about and discussed. A bat, or speed, or defense. All these things are variables that come into play when you’re picking your team.”

Thompson said he was simply working on getting better in all aspects of his game this offseason, but it’s not hard to imagine that he’s focused on controlling the strike zone and squaring more balls for power this year. Through eight Cactus League games this spring, he has a .673 OPS and one home run.

“I think he's made a lot of progress,” Bochy said after Thompson hit his first homer of the spring on Tuesday. “This past winter, it’s evident he worked hard, because his at-bats have been quality at-bats. He's laid off pitches that I've heard that he went after last year. So he just seems quieter up there, more confident, and he’s grinding out some quality ABs. I know we talked about his defense all the time. But I think on the offensive side, it's been a good spring for him.”