Tony Thomas Stats & Scouting Report

AB	4076
AVG	.252
OBP	.318
SLG	.423
HR	110

Full name Anthony Darrell Thomas
Born 07/10/1986 in New Orleans, LA
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Florida State
Drafted in the 3rd round (97th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2007 (signed for $360,000).

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Few players experienced such a drastic turnaround in such a short span as Thomas. He batted .240 and struck out 75 times in 2005, the second-most strikeouts in Division I, and piled up 66 more as a sophomore. This year, Thomas led the nation in hits (97) and doubles (28), ranked second in on-base percentage (.542) and third in average (.449). He had as many walks as strikeouts (36), and had gone from a non-prospect to a potential top 100 talent. He opened his stance, which has allowed him to see pitches a split-second earlier and says that has been the key to his improvement. His swing plane is flat and his up-the-middle approach isn't conducive for power, but he has bat speed and good barrel awareness. Thomas is a below-average defender with a below-average arm, though he's an average runner. Given his improvement at the plate, it's conceivable he plays his way into an adequate second baseman, which would enhance his value.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Cubs made Thomas a third-round pick in 2007 after he batted .430 at Florida State and led NCAA Division I in runs (91), doubles (33) and total bases (189). He entered pro ball with a good-hit, no-field reputation and lived up to it in his debut. Some club officials considered him a better pure hitter than No. 3 overall pick Josh Vitters. But after skipping a level and jumping to high Class A in 2008, Thomas did an about-face. He got off to a good start when pitchers busted him inside and he started to turn on balls, but he didn't adjust well when they started pitching him on the outer half. On the other hand, he worked hard on his defense, showed improved range and arm strength and led Florida State League second basemen with a .989 fielding percentage. The Cubs wonder whether he focused so much on his glove that it took away from his bat. Thomas righted himself in the postseason, batting a league-best .483 to win MVP honors as Daytona won the FSL title. He has quick hands, good strength for his size and an aggressive swing. If he can tighten his strike zone and use the opposite field more, he can get back to hitting for a high average with a healthy amount of doubles. He's an average runner who can steal bases thanks to his savvy. His hands and footwork still leave something to be desired at second base, and he doesn't have natural defensive instincts. Chicago wants to promote Thomas and double-play partner Darwin Barney as a tandem, so they'll move up to Double-A together this year.
Thomas hit just .265 in his first two seasons at Florida State, prompting him to adopt a more open stance in 2007. The results were spectacular, as he batted .430 and led NCAA Division I in runs (91), doubles (33) and total bases (189). The Cubs were elated to grab him in the third round for $360,000. The consensus in the organization is that Thomas has more pure batting ability than Josh Vitters. He employs a level swing to make consistent line-drive contact to all fields. He's strong for his size and doesn't have to cheat to catch up to fastballs, which allows him to stay back on offspeed stuff. He has average speed and outstanding instincts. Thomas isn't as instinctive at second base as he is at the plate or on the bases, and his defensive ceiling is average at best. He has adequate range and a fringy arm. There's not another good fit for him elsewhere on the diamond, but Chicago thinks roving infield instructor Bobby Dickerson will be able to help him out. Thomas will jump to high Class A Daytona. If he can make progress with his glove, he could reach Chicago by the end of 2009.

Minor League Top Prospects

During the spring, Thomas led NCAA Division I in hits (97) and doubles (28), and he ranked second in on-base percentage (.542) and third in batting (.449). Drafted in the third round out of Florida State, he settled into the leadoff spot for Boise and continued to hit. Thomas has a mature approach with solid-average bat speed and a knack for squaring up the ball. His flat swing isn't conducive for much power, but he sticks with his approach, uses all fields and can pepper the alleys with doubles. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of his debut was his basestealing, as he ripped off 28 bags in 30 attempts by using his instincts to enhance his average speed. He's a below-average defender with a below-average arm.