Bubba Thompson out with fractured hamate bone

Texas Rangers minor league outfielder Bubba Thompson will miss approximately four weeks with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, per the beat guys on Twitter — an injury that will require surgery.

Disappointing news for Thompson, the Rangers 2017 first rounder who was off to a slow start (.150/.209/.200) at high-A Down East. The move of J.P. Martinez from Hickory to Down East was announced earlier today, though it wasn’t clear what the corresponding move was until now.

Thompson singled on April 15 in the first inning for Down East, then was picked off, and left the game a couple of innings later. One would assume he hurt his hand sliding into second base.

The ideal scenario would be that one of Martinez or Leody Taveras plays well enough in the next month for Down East that he earns a promotion to Frisco when Thompson returns.

Meanwhile, in other promotion news, Jake Latz is moving from Hickory to Down East, per Scott Lucas. Latz, who just turned 23, is a LHP taken in the fifth round out of Kent State in 2017. He struck out 14 and walked 3 in 10 innings for Hickory this year.