Yet another A’s rookie makes a sensational play, this time in MLB debut
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- Colby Thomas impressed in MLB debut with game-saving throw from left field.
- Shea Langeliers returned from injury, hitting a three-run homer in first inning.
- A’s rookies continue fueling rebuild push amid last-place AL West standings.
A 35-52 record — good for last place in the American League West — and frustrations from both fans and players don’t tell the whole story for the rebuilding A’s.
A plethora of young players, including Jack Perkins, Denzel Clarke and Nick Kurtz, have made major impacts at the big-league level since being called up in the first half of the season, showing promise for the team’s future as it continues its three-year stay in West Sacramento before a planned move to Las Vegas.
On Monday, that trend continued in the form of A’s No. 2 prospect Colby Thomas.
Entering the game in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter for Tyler Soderstrom with the game deadlocked 4-4, the hard-swinging outfielder was ready to go.
In 76 games for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, Thomas was slashing .297/.365/.542 with 21 doubles, 17 home runs and 70 RBIs.
His first Major League pitch came in — a slider near the middle of the plate from the arm of Garrett Cleavinger — and the top prospect popped it up to first base for the final out of the inning.
“I always swing hard,” Thomas said postgame according to MLB.com. “But I want to get better at, when it comes to getting deeper into counts, not letting that pitcher’s pitch beat me or that setup pitch. Something I’ve been working on is getting to the next pitch. ... Sometimes you want to get to that next pitch. Maybe that next pitch is going to be the mistake.”
While Thomas is known for his power, it was his arm that was the major contribution on Monday.
‘The play of the game’
With two outs and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe on second base, Thomas stood in left field ready to go.
A looping line drive landed just in front of the A’s outfielder, but, after scooping it up on a one-hop, Thomas threw a bullet right to catcher Shea Langeliers to narrowly get Lowe out at home to keep the game tied and end the inning.
While Thomas wouldn’t get up to bat again with the chance to contribute to the rally, the A’s offense capitalized on the momentum his play gave and scored two runs, led by a Lawrence Butler triple, that would give them the 6-4 win by game’s end.
“That’s really the play of the game,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Thomas’ first MLB assist, according to MLB.com. “If they go ahead there, it puts a lot more pressure on our hitters and changes the whole dynamic of the ninth inning. … To make that play in his first game says a lot about what he’s done to get here.”
Just like his approach at the plate, Thomas said postgame that he approaches defense with the same strategy: play hard.
“I’ll run into that wall if I need to. I want to save as many runs as I can,” Thomas said, according to MLB.com “I want to play as hard as I can for as long as I can.”
Thomas will make his first MLB start in Tuesday’s game against the Rays, playing left field and batting seventh in the order.
Langeliers also back with A’s
Thomas was called up on the same day Langeliers — who caught the dart Thomas threw — as a part of a three-player adjustment for the A’s.
Langeliers, who left a June 5 matchup with the Twins with a strained left oblique, was the A’s Opening Day starting catcher and had slashed .237/.300/.430 with 10 home runs in 56 games prior to the injury.
Like Thomas, the catcher contributed significantly to the A’s win in his first game back with the team. He hit a three-run home run to center field in the first inning.
Reliever Tyler Ferguson, outfielder JJ Bleday and backup catcher Willie MacIver — all of whom had significant playing time for the A’s this year — were optioned to Las Vegas as a part of the move.
