Alek Thomas

Position: CF
Level: Class A
Affiliate: Kane County Cougars
League: Midwest League
Born: 04/28/2000 (Age: 23)
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 175
B/T: Left / Left
Acquired: 2nd Rd., 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft (ARI)

Prospect Spotlight

Thomas was the 63rd overall pick in 2018 draft from a Chicago-area high school. His father is the White Sox Director of Strength and Conditioning, and the time around the big leagues made him far more pro-ready than most cold-weather prep hitters. After putting up big numbers in his 2018 debut, Thomas hasn’t slowed down since moving to full-season ball, slashing .285/.378/.463 for Kane County en route to an all-star bid in the Midwest League.

His feel for the barrel is impressive, especially considering how much pre-pitch movement exists in his swing. Plus hand/eye and an advanced sense of the zone combine for a potential plus hit tool; Thomas has consistently posted above average walk rates, a trait that bodes well for his on-base ability. He makes a lot of hard contact, and though he might not wind up a huge home run threat, there’s sneaky power potential if he can start lifting the ball more. Most of his present contact is low line drives or on the ground, and though he uses the other field well, he trades power for contact by not opening up on pitches to pull. A plus runner, Thomas’ wheels show up in the outfield and on the bases. He’s a stolen base threat and projects to play a solid CF.

The ingredients are here for a well-rounded everyday outfielder who contributes in numbers parts of the game. Even if he’s short of that, the base running and defensive ability could still get Thomas to the big leagues in a reserve role. There’s a best-case scenario where he taps into more power and starts showing a true five-tool skill set, something that would move him above the FV  50 tier.