Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas hit a ninth-inning grand slam Friday, part of a six-run comeback for Arizona that gave them a brief 8-7 lead in the game, only to lose 10-8 after closer Paul Sewald gave up a pair of home runs in the bottom of the inning. The slam was Thomas' only hit in the contest and his second home run of the season. The 24-year-old has missed most of the season with an injured hamstring and was recently activated off the IL. He's 2-for-12 since activation but does offer some intriguing power-speed upside if he can stay healthy. Last season he hit nine home runs and stole nine bags in 374 at-bats, but also hit four more postseason home runs in just 54 at-bats and stole an additional two bases.
The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned rookie infielder Blaze Alexander to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Thomas will also be reinserted right back into the team's starting lineup on Tuesday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, as he's playing center field and batting eighth against Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will make his long-awaited return after straining his left hamstring all the way back on the fourth game of the season in early April. Expect the D-backs to ease Thomas back into the fold in center field against right-handed pitching. Thomas hasn't moved the needle much offensively in his first two years in the big leagues, so he's mostly an asset in NL-only leagues for his speed.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) was scheduled to play for Triple-A Reno on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, according to assistant general manager Mike Fitzgerald. After that, the hope is that Thomas can return to the Diamondbacks, possibly for the series opener in Los Angeles against the division-rival Dodgers on Tuesday. In two games with the Aces already, Thomas has gone 1-for-7 and he's 8-for-20 overall on his minor-league rehab assignment, including a short stint in the Arizona Complex League. The 24-year-old could be eased back into the fold initially for the D-backs, but when fully healthy, he figures to play regularly in center field against right-handed pitching. So far, Thomas has been more useful to the Snakes for his glove in his three years in the big leagues, as he's currently slashing just .230/.273/.362 with 18 homers and 13 steals in 242 games.
Alek Thomas To Take Part In Live Batting Practice On Monday
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) played seven innings in center field and had three at-bats on Saturday in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and said his hamstring felt good. After an off day on Sunday, Thomas will take live batting practice against right-hander Zac Gallen (hamstring) on Monday and then head to Triple-A Reno for a minor-league rehab assignment. The D-backs are hoping Thomas will join the big-league roster for the June 28-30 series against the visiting Oakland Athletics. The 24-year-old center fielder had been scheduled to come off the injured list on May 7, but manager Torey Lovullo said Thomas felt something in his left hamstring after playing in a rehab game on May 5. He then received a platelet-rich plasma injection to alleviate swelling on May 13. When healthy, Thomas is a defense-first player for the Snakes.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) will play in another Arizona Complex League game on Friday after the soreness in his injured hamstring subsided. Thomas reported "general soreness" in his hamstring earlier this week, which caused the Diamondbacks to temporarily pause his rehab assignment after he went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI in his first three games in the Arizona Complex League. The 24-year-old has recovered quickly from his soreness and will resume playing in minor-league games this weekend. If all goes well this weekend, he could move his rehab assignment to a higher affiliate next week. Since he's been out since April 1, the D-backs want to see him play in more games before activating him from the injured list. When Thomas is back, he should see regular playing time in center field against righties, but so far he's mostly been a glove guy in the big leagues.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) felt more discomfort in his left hamstring and is headed back to Phoenix to be re-evaluated, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Thomas was on a minor-league rehab assignment and was expected to rejoin the big-league club on Tuesday in Cincinnati, but that won't be the case now. The 24-year-old first injured his hamstring on March 31 and had only played in four rehab games with Triple-A Reno. There's a chance he'll now have to restart a rehab assignment. As long as Thomas continues to sit out, Corbin Carroll should handle center field in Arizona, with Jake McCarthy and Randal Grichuk seeing more time in the outfield as well. Thomas is a defense-first player, so he can remain on waiver wires in mixed fantasy leagues.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) is expected to come off the injured list and be back with the team at the start of the team's road trip to Cincinnati against the Reds that starts on Tuesday. Thomas is serving as the designated hitter on a minor-league rehab assignment for Triple-A Reno on Friday, so as long as he doesn't have a setback with his strained left hamstring over the weekend, he'll be back with the Snakes next week. The 24-year-old is more valuable to Arizona on defense in center field than he's been with his bat, as he's hit just .230/.273/.362 with 18 home runs, 82 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 242 games at the big-league level since debuting in 2022. When Thomas returns, it will mean less playing time for the likes of Pavin Smith and Jake McCarthy.
Alek Thomas Doing Everything But Running Full Speed
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) started baserunning activities on April 24, with manager Torey Lovullo saying that Thomas is doing everything except running full speed. The skipper doesn't have a target date for Thomas' return, but he said Thomas is progressing well. The 24-year-old strained his left hamstring when he grounded into a double play on March 31 against the Colorado Rockies and underwent an MRI exam on April 1 that showed a strain that was greater than a Grade 1 strain. It sounds like he's getting close to being able to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Until Thomas is able to return, Corbin Carroll will continue to operate as the team's center fielder, giving Jake McCarthy and Randal Grichuk more reps in the outfield. Thomas has still yet to show much offensively for fantasy managers, but he's a stud on defense when healthy.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) recently told reporters that he is progressing well from his injury. The 23-year-old was placed on the injured list roughly two weeks ago due to a hamstring injury. Thomas has been taking at-bats in extended spring training and it appears to be going well. The D-Backs haven't given a timetable on Thomas lately, so fantasy managers will have to be patient. In the meantime, Jake McCarthy will continue seeing increased time in the outfield.
The Arizona Diamondbacks placed outfielder Alek Thomas (left) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a strained left hamstring and recalled outfielder Jorge Barrosa up from the minor leagues in a corresponding move. Thomas injured his hamstring on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies and will now be forced to miss at least the next 10 days. Jake McCarthy is starting in right field and batting eight in the lineup on Monday against the New York Yankees and right-hander Luis Gil, and he should benefit from most of the extra playing time in Arizona's outfield for however long Thomas is sidelined. Corbin Carroll has shifted over to replace Thomas in center field. Thomas went 3-for-14 (.214) with a homer and four RBI in the first four games of the year before landing on the IL.
