Leslie Thompson: Everything you need to know

Thompson has enrolled at South Alabama and will join their football team as a walk-on, Creg Stephenson of AL.com reports. Thompson was an all-state quarterback in Alabama before being taken by the Rangers in the first round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. The 26-year-old has slashed .232/.273/.295 over parts of three major-league seasons. It's not clear whether Thompson has completely closed the door on baseball if football doesn't work out, but he would certainly appear to be a long shot to ever wear a big-league uniform again.

Thompson cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Double-A Chattanooga, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. Thompson was pushed off the 40-man roster Thursday but will remain within the Reds organization after going unclaimed off waivers. He is slashing .200/.243/.314/ across 37 plate appearances since being sent down to Double-A and could reach Triple-A if his hitting improves, though a return to the big leagues seems unlikely at the moment.

The Reds designated Thompson for assignment Thursday. Since the end of the 2023 season, Thompson has now been DFA'd on four occasions; twice by the Reds, and one apiece by the Yankees and Twins. Thompson won a spot on the Reds' Opening Day roster and hit .111 over 18 at-bats in 17 games before he was sent to Double-A Chattanooga on May 7. The 25-year-old outfielder had posted a .557 OPS in nine games since reporting to Chattanooga and was deemed expendable from the 40-man roster with the Reds opting to clear a spot for right-hander Brett Kennedy, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville.