ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have signed their top three picks from the 2017 MLB Draft. The club introduced outfielder Bubba Thompson, shortstop Chris Seise and pitcher Hans Crouse at a news conference on Friday at Globe Life Park.
"It's unbelievable we got these three guys, and it was kind of a coup in my mind how we got all three," said Rangers director of amateur scouting Kip Fagg. "We kind of identified these guys, and it was good for us to have these guys and have them sign today."
Thompson and Seise were taken in the first round -- Thompson with the 26th pick and Seise with the 29th -- and Crouse went in the second at 66th overall.
• Rangers' Draft results
Thompson, who also played quarterback for the McGill-Toolen High School football team in Mobile, Ala., said he was "50-50" on which sport to pursue but chose baseball because of the longevity of the career. He earned a signing bonus of $2.1 million, while Seise earned $2 million and Crouse earned $1.45 million.
"I started at a young age working my butt off, and one thing that I did was to get stronger and show more power," Thompson said. "Today means to me, as I move up the ladder, just to represent my mom and this organization the best that I can. So I'm going to keep working my butt off and just give it all I have."
Seise was a high school teammates of Kole Enright, the Rangers' third-round pick in 2016, and he played on the same travel team as Cole Ragans, the Rangers' first-round pick last year. Fagg said Seise "meets all the criteria we're looking for in a Texas Ranger."
Seise, who was committed to the University of Central Florida, said this journey has been a long time coming.
"This is a dream come true," Seise said. "All those times practicing at the field with my dad when i was younger are starting to pay off, and it's just the beginning."
Crouse, who was ranked as the 31st-best Draft prospect by MLBPipeline.com, echoed the sentiments of his fellow signees.
"I'm just going to take it day by day, and I'm sure it's going to take a little bit to get used to, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfill my dream of potentially making it into the Major Leagues," Crouse said.
All three players were drafted out of high school and have been assigned to the Rangers' Rookie-level team in Arizona.
"What got us here is our hard work," Seise said. "Everything we put in, as long as we keep doing it, we'll be together hopefully in the big leagues."