Thomas graduated from prospect status at 22 in 2022, breaking through as the No. 21 overall prospect per FanGraphs, with a future value of 55 on a 20-80 scale.
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He projects as a speed-and-fielding threat who can generate a good deal of power from his swing in the minor leagues and has the potential to become a good outfielder.
However, he has completely failed to deliver on his promise in his first five years in the major leagues, and he is now a player the Dodgers are taking a flier on.
Apr 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
In terms of wRC+, which measures a player’s run creation above average, Thomas has never had a season with anything higher than 81, sitting as one of the worst hitters given his massive chunk of playing time over the years.
He has been around a replacement-level player, generating only 1.4 fWAR over his four years. Despite his athleticism in the outfield, Thomas has also not been great defensively.
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Thomas has three seasons of below-average defense, per FanGraphs.
It took a lot for the Diamondbacks to finally cut bait with Thomas, a once highly touted prospect, but they had seen enough and made the decision to ship him off to Los Angeles.
He will be available in case of an injury, which does arise, as a lefty option down in the minor leagues. It is possible that, given the number of lefties on the team, Thomas does not see the field in 2026.
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Considering his woes at the plate, he may need to hit the reset button and overhaul his swing.
However, given his major league experience and his option year already being used, there is a path to playing time with the Dodgers.
Unfortunately for Thomas, the bar will be high for him to break through. Andy Pages looks like the everyday center fielder for the foreseeable future, Tesocar Hernandez is under contract until the end of the 2027 season, and Kyle Tucker is on a four-year deal, while Tommy Edman, Kike Hernandez, and Hyeseong Kim can all play in the outfield if needed.
The road for him will be tough, but if he develops as a player, Thomas has the talent to be a mainstay on the Dodgers down the line.
