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Despite the struggles that the Arizona Diamondbacks have experienced in 2021, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. It comes in the form of the talent that their farm system could bring.
As the season wrapped up, nobody in the D-backs’ system was hotter than Triple-A Reno Aces center fielder Alek Thomas.
The D-backs recognized the 5-feet-11 lefty as their organization player of the year at the beginning of October. He led the minor league system in hits, triples, extra base hits, total bases, and runs scored.
Thomas was selected 63rd overall in the second round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft. He is currently ranked as Arizona’s number 3 prospect by both MLB.com and Baseball America.
His production this season was outstanding. He hit .313/.394/.559 with 18 home runs, 86 runs scored, and 59 RBI in 106 minor-league games combined in 2021.
His numbers with Reno are even more absurd. In just 34 games, he hit eight home runs and had 18 RBI in 149 at-bats. That’s 18.62 at-bats per home run. He slashed .369/.434/.658 with a ridiculous 1.091 OPS.
Thomas was named to MLB Pipeline’s Prospect Team of the Year First Team this season. He has also participated in the MLB All-Star Futures Game twice.
While his numbers are enticing, Reno’s thin air can’t be taken lightly, so don’t put too much stock in an unproven player that hasn’t reached the major league level yet, as we discussed on a past episode of the PHNX D-backs Podcast.
The Aces were averaging more than seven runs per game at one point this season. They ended the year with a team batting average of .294.
Comparing his numbers to some of his teammates who did play in the big leagues this season should also temper your expectations. Josh VanMeter was slashing .388/.538/.881 with a 1.419 OPS in Reno. While he did hit the biggest walk-off of the season for the D-backs in their final game of the year, he hit just .194 in 2020 and .212 this season in the majors.
His offense isn’t the only way Thomas could contribute to the D-backs. He had four assists and a double play in 31 games at centerfield for the Aces. This is a position Arizona desperately needs to fill.
With all due respect to Jake McCarthy, who did a good job of playing center at the end of the season, the D-backs need to stop experimenting with All-Star caliber players being utility men and commit to someone like Thomas being their every-day center fielder.
They were last in MLB in defensive runs saved at both center field and second base. This is a scenario that could be attributed to switching Ketel Marte’s position. While the hamstring injuries Marte suffered this season may not have been a direct result of playing center, the additional physical activity required to field the position may have been a factor.
Thomas is athletic and has the speed to play center field. However, he may end up in the corners if the team parts ways with Kole Calhoun. Playing center at Chase Field is an absolute nightmare and may fall to a more seasoned outfielder.
The D-backs’ current youth movement, coupled with GM Mike Hazen’s commitment to finding internal candidates to fill positional needs, have all signs pointing to Thomas getting an opportunity to be a big part of the Major League club next season.
Let’s just hope his offense doesn’t suffer the same hangover we all do when returning to the the Valley from Nevada.
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