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Alek Thomas

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Alek Thomas
Thomas playing for the Diamondbacks in 2023
Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 5
Outfielder
Born: (2000-04-28) April 28, 2000 (age 24)
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.[1]
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 8, 2022, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.226
Home runs20
Runs batted in95
Stolen bases17
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Thunder Bay Team
Representing  Mexico
World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Miami Team

Alek Thomas (born April 28, 2000) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022. He has played for the Mexico national baseball team.

Amateur career

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Thomas attended Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He committed to play both college baseball and college football at Texas Christian University.[2] During his high school career he hit .423 with 40 home runs and 158 runs batted in (RBIs).[3] He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[4]

Professional career

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Thomas spent his first professional season with the Arizona League Diamondbacks and Missoula Osprey,[5] batting .333 with two home runs, 27 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 56 games between the two teams.[5] He started 2019 with the Kane County Cougars.[6][7][8] In July, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[9] In August, he was promoted to the Visalia Rawhide, with whom he finished the year.[10] Over 114 games between the two teams, Thomas slashed .300/.379/.450 with ten home runs, 55 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.

Thomas did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] He began the 2021 season with the Amarillo Sod Poodles.[12] In June, Thomas was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[13] He was promoted to the Reno Aces in August.[14] Over 106 games between the two teams, he slashed .313/.394/.559 with 18 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 29 doubles.[15][16][17] He opened the 2022 season back with Reno, and hitting .277/.362/.495/.857 with 4 home runs and 14 RBI over 24 games.[18]

On May 8, 2022, Thomas was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[19] On May 11, he hit his first career home run off Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins.[20]

In Game 4 of the 2023 National League Championship Series, Thomas hit a pinch-hit, game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning to help propel the Diamondbacks to a 6–5 victory.[21]

International career

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Thomas represented the United States at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup and Mexico at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[22] Thomas was named to the 2017 U-18 All-World Team after recording a .361 batting average en route to a gold medal.[23]

Personal life

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Thomas' father Allen was the longtime strength and conditioning coach of the Chicago White Sox. His mother Marcella "has roots" in Sonora and Thomas has family in Agua Prieta.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Cheshire, Catie. "Highly touted Tucson-born Diamondbacks prospect Alek Thomas excited for future". tucsonsentinel.com. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Narang, Bob (February 11, 2017). "Mount Carmel's Alek Thomas commits to TCU for baseball, football". chicagotribune.com.
  3. ^ O’Brien, Tim (June 12, 2018). "Alek Thomas picks D-Backs over college". The Beverly Review.
  4. ^ Staff Report (June 4, 2018). "Mount Carmel's Alek Thomas selected by Arizona in second round of MLB draft". Chicago Sun-Times.
  5. ^ a b "Prospect Thomas enjoys whirlwind first year". MLB.com.
  6. ^ Johnson, Paul (April 2, 2019). "'None of that fazed me': Mount Carmel grad Alek Thomas already making noise with Kane County Cougars". chicagotribune.com.
  7. ^ Staff REPORTS (June 6, 2019). "Riding double-digit hit streak, Alek Thomas named Midwest League All-Star". Morganton.com | The News Herald.
  8. ^ Johnson, Paul (June 6, 2019). "'Hard work paying off': Kane County Cougars outfielder Alek Thomas named starter for Midwest League All-Star game". chicagotribune.com.
  9. ^ "Two Diamondbacks prospects selected for MLB's Futures Game". Arizona Sports. June 28, 2019.
  10. ^ "Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas: Promoted to High-A". CBSSports.com. August 3, 2019.
  11. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  12. ^ "Diamondbacks prospect Thomas excited for future". July 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "2021 Futures Game rosters". Mlb.com. June 30, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "Alek Thomas tearing it up at Triple-A level in Reno". September 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "Diamondbacks top prospects 2022: Outfielder Alek Thomas among interesting pieces in Arizona's rebuild". December 16, 2021.
  16. ^ "'Knocking down that door': Diamondbacks' prospect Alek Thomas nearing his arrival".
  17. ^ "The Alek Thomas era of Diamondbacks baseball is rapidly approaching: 'He's going to be knocking down that door soon'".
  18. ^ Gilbert, Steve (May 8, 2022). "D-backs call up No. 1 prospect Alek Thomas". MLB.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "D-backs calling up touted OF prospect Thomas". ESPN.com. May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  20. ^ "D-backs' top prospect belts Alek Thomas belts first career home run vs. Marlins". arizonasports.com. May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  21. ^ Piecoro, Nick. "DBacks even NLCS with 3-run rally in 8th fueled by Alek Thomas, Gabriel Moreno". azcentral.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Romero, José M. (March 10, 2023). "Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas is all in with Team Mexico at World Baseball Classic". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "2017 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup star Alek Thomas celebrates first MLB home run". World Baseball Softball Confederation. May 13, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
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