Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 1 Alek Thomas

6/4/18 - Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2nd round, 63rd Overall.

4.23.18 - TCU commit, high draft follow. 5-foot-11, 175-pound left/left center fielder, athletically built, multi-sport athlete. Hits leadoff, centerfield. Loose easy approach in the box, confident hitter, above average pitch recognition and plate discipline. Will use the whole field, ball jumps off the bat, loose hands make easy hard contact. Plus-plus contact off the bat in his second AB, fastball away, hit a bullet line drive to SS for a hit. 4.19 run down the line on a 4-3. Savvy defender, easy gap coverage. Went 1-for-4 with a BB, 1B, 4-3, K FB up, F7. Scored a run and pickoff caught stealing.

2.4.18 (Super 60) - Texas Christian recruit, currently ranked No. 8 in the PBR High School Draft 100. 5-foot-11, 179-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, athletic, wiry-strong frame with room for continued physical development. Easy, natural athlete - recruited to go to TCU in baseball and football (also standout basketball player) - with highly advanced baseball instincts. Ran a 6.70 laser-timed 60 (previously ran a 6.43 at the PBR Midwest ProCase last summer). Offensively, hits from a relaxed, open setup, advanced rhythm in load, smooth leg lift back; loose, fluid athletic hands, generates easy bat speed. Overall professional approach. Registered 95 mph exit velocity off a tee with wood. Per FlightScope data during BP, had an average exit velocity of 92.61 with a max of 99.4, with an average launch angle of 15.94 degrees, and a max carry of 360.17. ... Speed and athleticism translate in the field, profiles as a centerfielder at the next level. High-level defender with advanced defensive actions. Moves with fluidity and ease. Was clocked at 88 mph from the outfield. Overall, potential top-round draft prospect. 

8.24.17 - Named to Team USA 18U team.

7.11.17 - TCU recruit, currently ranked No. 7 overall in PBR coverage area, No. 1 in Illinois’ 2018 class.  5-foot-11, 179-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, athletic, wiry-strong frame with plenty of room for continued physical development. Top-of-the-scale athlete with highly advanced baseball instincts and I.Q. Ran an event-best 6.43 laser-timed 60 on a wet track. Speed and athleticism translate all over the field. Highest level defensive centerfielder, gets advanced reads off the bat, tracks balls down to both power alleys with ease. In game, Thomas ran down two balls deep in the right-center gap, covering considerable real estate, and made it look routine. Profiles as no-doubt centerfielder at the next level with below-average arm strength. Offensively, hits from a relaxed open setup, advanced rhythm in load, pronounced leg-kick back, loose, fluid athletic hands, generates easy bat speed. Registered 95-mph exit velocity off tee. Produces big pullside power when he wanted in BP, tanking several home runs. Also shows handsy opposite-field approach with intent on getting out the box quickly. Overall, Thomas was the top prospect at the PBR Midwest ProCase, and further cemented his status as a high-round draft prospect. 

7.10.17 - Named to Team USA 18U trials roster.

7.1.17 - Collected another double on a hard fly ball into the left field corner. It came against a 92 mph fastball away. He also squared up a lineout to center that was 99 off the bat.

6.29.17 - Has enjoyed a superb three-day stretch here, and is quietly distancing himself from several other high-profile outfield prospects. His ability to barrel up velocity with ease has been documented in previous notebooks. The Texas Christian recruit did so again Thursday. Although the left-handed hitter only had one single to show for it, Thomas laced a ball at the left fielder, squared one to center field, and grounded out. A top-level athlete, Thomas gets out the box extremely quick and also stole a base in the game. He’s also a highly advanced defensive center fielder, showing natural actions and getting early reads while tracking down balls in the gaps with relative ease. His baseball instincts in all facets have come to the fore here over the course of three days.

6.28.17 - Has shown that he is unfazed by velocity. He is 3-for-9 with a double in two games and has routinely squared balls up, including fastballs in the 92-95 mph range. He has quick, loose hands that generate bat speed and he doesn’t hesitate to jump on fastballs early in the count. Thomas would’ve had another hit, but in his last at-bat Wednesday he was robbed by SS Brice Turang (Santiago HS, CA), who was playing second base and made a spectacular diving play to his glove side in the outfield grass and threw to first from his backside.

6.27.17 - Started the day with a strong BP, showing a loose, easy swing from the left side. The ball jumped off his bat and he drove a couple balls to left-center field. In the game, the Texas Christian recruit had two hard hits in his first two at-bats. First, he took a 95 mph fastball away and shot it down the left-field line for a double. Then he jumped on a hanging slider for a single up the middle that was 101 off the bat. He finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and got down the line in 4.26 and 4.27 seconds on a couple groundouts.

3.24.17 - TCU commit. No. 1 ranked 2018 in Illinois, No. 14 in the PBR Overall Ranks. 5-foot-10, 174-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with an athletic frame and wiry strength. Open setup with fluid rhythm. Looks to pull, but will go with pitches when behind in the count. Went 2-5 in game with a triple. Plus runner, 4.04 down the line on a ground ball. Fluid defensive actions in centerfield, takes good routes.

2.19.17 - Texas Christian commit. 5-foot-10, 174-pound, athletically built, left-handed hitting outfielder. High-upside athlete who continues to impress with his athleticism and advanced tools. Ran a personal best 6.63 laser-timed 60 at the event. Also, registered a exit velocity of 93 mph from a tee. Offensively, fluid rhythm, creates easy bat speed with loose, whippy hands through the zone. Legitimate pull-side power potential, ball jumps off the bat. Starts open and balanced, smooth load, leg-kick timing trigger and maintains good balance through contact. Defensively, moves fluidly, with ease and body control in the outfield. Plays through the baseball, athletic, natural outfield actions and soft hands. Arm works long and out of a high ¾ slot; accurate throws clocked at 86 mph.

2.10.17 - Verbally committed to TCU.

Future Games 2015 - Ultra athletic 5-foot-10, 157-pound left-handed hitting outfielder impressed in all facets of the game. Began his day running a 6.74 60. The left-handed hitter then flashed his offensive prowess during batting practice at the Future Games. Hits from an open, athletic set up, smooth deep load. Plus rhythm throughout his swing. Extremely loose, quick hands and easy bat speed. Showed off his pull-side pop by putting his last swing of the day easily over the right-field fence. Hit an opposite field double over the left fielders head in game. Also, registered an exit velocity of 93 mph. Defensively, smooth, easy athletic actions in the outfield and a long, loose-arm action. Routinely tracked down balls in game and was clocked at 82 mph from the outfield. Makes everything he does look easy.

6/6/15 - 5-foot-9, 170-pound L/L outfielder. Premium athlete, lean loose frame that projects. Confident game, has a bounce in his step, moxy. Excellent hands at the plate, path occasionally gets long, good barrel control. 4.15 runner down the line on groundout to the pitcher. Plus potential defender, long strider, covers ground well with good reads, ability to make game changing plays defensively.

5.22.15 - Ran 4.19 on a single into the six hole in the sixth. Made a great catch for the second out of seventh running down the left field line. Gets good jumps, plus runner. Flew out to left field and reached on a catcher’s interference. Plus rhythm and hands at the plate, hits from an open stance, plus bat speed for a freshman, advanced beyond years. Thomas is the top 2018 prospect in the state of Illinois, and currently has four home runs on varsity this spring.

5.6.15 - At 5-foot-9 165-pound, there’s plenty of room for Thomas to physically mature. The freshman is a fluid athlete who makes everything look relatively simply. Approach to the game seems to come natural. Natural outfield actions and range. Takes efficient routes and high points the ball very well. The left handed hitting outfielder has a balanced set up at the dish. Hands are loose and in rhythm near the head. Creates a consistent bat angle which allows for a flat, strong path through the hitting zone. Top hand elbow slot is naturally advanced, allowing the bat to stay in the zone longer, giving him plus plate coverage. This was on display on a 1-1, two out change up that he flipped over the third baseman’s head to drive in a run. 7.08 runner this winter, speed evident in outfield actions. High end follow for 2018, oozes talent.

4.27.15 - 5-foot-10, 157-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder with a thin athletic frame. High level athlete, 4.14 runner down the line, with smooth actions in the outfield. At the plate hits from a narrow open stance with a high back elbow and leg lift trigger. Rhythmic swing with fast hands,  showed barrel control against a good arm (88-89 mph). Presently a free swinger who will continue to improve with development. One of the top freshman in the state.

2.16.15 - 5-foot-10, 157-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder. Projectable frame. In the field has a long, loose arm action from an over the top arm slot. Soft hands, fluid footwork, with a clean exchange. Threw 80 mph from the outfield.  At the plate hits from a tall, narrow, open stance, with a drop load, and leg kick stride. Pull hitter with a fast bat. Showed present strength with 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.08. High ceiling, toolsy prospect, who will continue to improve with maturity.