Alek Thomas DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alex Thomas will make the start in center field over Jake McCarthy on Friday in the second game of the season against the visiting Chicago Cubs and right-hander Jameson Taillon at Chase Field. Thomas will bat seventh in the lineup. Thomas comes into 2025 looking to bounce back after a very disappointing 2024 campaign in which he played in only 39 games at the big-league level due to injuries and poor performance. In 103 plate appearances for Arizona, the 24-year-old left-handed hitter went just 18-for-95 (.189) with three home runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases. Defense has been his calling card so far early in his career, but with a likely platoon role in Arizona's outfield this year, it's hard to get excited about him as anything more than outfield depth in NL-only leagues. Thomas is hitless in only two career at-bats against Taillon.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (oblique) was reinstated from the seven-day minor-league injured list at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday. In his return to the field with the Aces on Tuesday, Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. The 24-year-old has been out of action for the past month with a strained right oblique but is working his way back and could be able to rejoin the big-league roster before the end of the regular season at the end of September. If Thomas does rejoin the D-backs and they make the postseason, he'll likely be a bench player and potential late-game replacement for his defense in center field. Thomas has played in a career-low 37 games in Arizona in 2024 in his third year in the majors and has hit just .191 (18-for-94) with three homers, 17 RBI and four steals. Jake McCarthy has essentially taken over for Thomas at the big-league level.

The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned outfielder Alek Thomas to Triple-A Reno following Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies and recalled rookie infielder Blaze Alexander from Reno in a corresponding move on Wednesday. Thomas has missed a big chunk of this season due to injury and wasn't swinging the bat well enough upon his return to warrant a roster spot at the big-league level, despite his excellent glove work. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter has batted just .191 (18-for-94) this year with three home runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases in 37 games played in his third year in Arizona. Thomas' demotion is good news for Jake McCarthy, who has become a lineup regular for the Snakes in a breakout year. Alexander, meanwhile could see some starts at second base, including on Wednesday, with Ketel Marte nursing a low-grade ankle sprain.