The Texas Rangers selected outfielder Bubba Thompson (26th overall) and shortstop Chris Seise (29th overall) in the first round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Thompson hit .429 with 11 home runs, 35 RBI, and 18 stolen bases, while posting an .857 slugging percentage this season as a senior at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, AL. The right-handed batter and thrower was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) Player of the Year and was a First Team All-State selection.
Baseball America rated Thompson as the top prospect from Alabama, the 8th-best outfielder, and the 25th-best prospect overall. Thompson, a two-sport star in baseball and football, is committed to the University of Alabama for baseball.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Seise batted .413 (31-for-75) with 31 runs scored, 24 RBI, and 16 extra-base hits this season at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, FL. Seise's brother, Anthony, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th round of the 2012 June Draft.
Texas will also have the 66th overall pick in the draft's second round, which will take place later tonight.