Baseball Bubba

[kenyanfeline]

SIAP - There’s another Bubba who is a great baseball AND football player making the news right now.

Bubba Thompson is 27 year old former first-round MLB prospect and spent the last 8 years playing baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, playing in 92 big league games. He took the $2,000,000 signing bonus when he was 18 instead of scholarships to Tennessee and Ole Miss.

Now, he’s walking on to the South Alabama football team, which is located in his hometown.

It got me thinking: had NIL existed in 2011/2014, would we have had a fighters chance of convincing Bubba Starling and Monte Harrison to take the full-ride scholarship + NIL package instead of their signing bonuses? Monte’s was $1.8 million and Bubba Starlings was $7.5 million.

I’m thinking we would have had a chance with Monte Harrison but $7.5 million for Starling would have been insurmountable.

I do remember that glimmer of hope for both of them. Incredible athletes who could have been difference makers. Both seemed to have the raw tools that, if developed correctly, could have changed the trajectory of Nebraska football in the 2010’s.

Also, I found this article that mentions Starling’s retirement from baseball and it insinuates he had some regrets about not giving football a try.

 

[nscottie]

SIAP - There’s another Bubba who is a great baseball AND football player making the news right now.

Bubba Thompson is 27 year old former first-round MLB prospect and spent the last 8 years playing baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, playing in 92 big league games. He took the $2,000,000 signing bonus when he was 18 instead of scholarships to Tennessee and Ole Miss.

Now, he’s walking on to the South Alabama football team, which is located in his hometown.

It got me thinking: had NIL existed in 2011/2014, would we have had a fighters chance of convincing Bubba Starling and Monte Harrison to take the full-ride scholarship + NIL package instead of their signing bonuses? Monte’s was $1.8 million and Bubba Starlings was $7.5 million.

I’m thinking we would have had a chance with Monte Harrison but $7.5 million for Starling would have been insurmountable.

I do remember that glimmer of hope for both of them. Incredible athletes who could have been difference makers. Both seemed to have the raw tools that, if developed correctly, could have changed the trajectory of Nebraska football in the 2010’s.

Also, I found this article that mentions Starling’s retirement from baseball and it insinuates he had some regrets about not giving football a try.

Nice article. Thanks for linking.

 

[...TrueColors...]

It would likely depend on how the signing bonus was distributed. Many guys who sign in baseball don’t just get a direct deposit that next day. That money is spread out over a given period of time.

Bubba I don’t think there’s a way you get him here unless you’re convinced he’s a QB and you pay him top QB money in this day and age.

Monte is possible.

Slight gear shift -

NIL has made decisions for kids drafted early tough. What will likely happen with baseball is the kids with high NIL value will stop being drafted in the top 10 rounds. If I’m a GM I simply have to sign my first 10 round picks. If there’s even a chance he’s not coming here I’m not taking him.

So it’ll be interesting what happens on the NIL side there when the kids can’t really use the draft as a bargaining chip.

 

[BradWesley]

We need a reset of the Starling family kicking Bo, Tim Beck, and Barney, out of their home, and them peeling out in their Dodge Stratus.

(Was that.a Sarasota story?)

 

[DuckSker]

Monte had 2 catches for 28 yards as a 29 year old freshman at Arkansas last season

 

[clifscales]

This kid played against Wayne State yesterday in Arizona. I didnt know you could play Minor league baseball and go back to college and still play. I guess he went 4-5 at the plate.

Noah Williams - Baseball - Colorado State University Pueblo

Noah Williams (25) Outfielder - Minor League Baseball (2022-24): Played in 92 games over three seasons with both the FCL Braves (Rookie) and Single-A Augusta GreenJackets

gothunderwolves.com

 

[kenyanfeline]

We need a reset of the Starling family kicking Bo, Tim Beck, and Barney, out of their home, and them peeling out in their Dodge Stratus.

(Was that.a Sarasota story?)

I barely remember this and can’t recall details.

They told the coaches they are taking the MLB money, Bo went nuclear and said shove the $7.5 million up your ass and the coaches peeled out?

Honestly Bubba could have been a near job-saver for Bo so I totally get being disappointed 😂