Colby Thomas Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1020
AVG	.281
OBP	.347
SLG	.528
HR	49

Full name Colby Grant Thomas
Born 01/26/2001 in Gainesville, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Mercer
Drafted in the 3rd round (95th overall) by the Athletics in 2022 (signed for $750,000).

View Draft Report

Thomas has long intrigued scouts in Georgia thanks to his plus running ability, raw power and above-average defensive potential in the outfield. There were plenty of questions about his pure hitting ability, though, after his 2020 season was cut short due to Covid and he hit .247 in 2021 with a 23.9% strikeout rate. He hit .228/.301/.457 with 18 strikeouts and six walks in a 29-game Cape Cod League stint in 2021 but took a huge leap forward during the 2022 season with Mercer. He was one of the most productive hitters in college baseball, hitting .325/.451/.734 with 17 home runs, 14 doubles, 11 stolen bases and more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in 42 games. His season was cut short in May with a right shoulder injury that required labrum surgery. Thomas has a lean, 6-foot, 190-pound frame and works with an upright and open batting stance, with a sizable leg kick and uphill bat path geared for launching balls into the air. He does a nice job when he can get his hands extended and out over the plate but struggles on the inner half. Thomas will swing and miss against secondary offerings but has made plenty of contact against fastballs, though he admittedly didn’t face a large sample of 93-plus mph velocity in 2022. Thomas played right field for Mercer this spring but has the tools for center and the power and speed upside to excite teams, regardless of his health.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The Athletics signed Thomas for $750,000 after drafting him in the third round in 2022, but he flew under the radar after labrum surgery ended his Mercer career early and delayed his pro debut to the following season. That quickly changed. Thomas posted an .844 OPS and reached High-A in his first full season in 2023, then performed even better in 2024, hitting .277/.342/.563 with 31 home runs in 132 games while reaching Triple-A. He was one of just six minor leaguers to surpass 30 homers and led the field with 80 extra-base hits.

Scouting Report: Thomas is a dynamic, twitchy athlete with arguably the quickest bat in the Athletics’ system and easy plus raw power. He’s also perhaps their most aggressive minor league hitter, eager to ambush pitchers early in the count. Such an approach has so far yielded plenty of impact—Thomas is particularly good at elevating to his pull side—and impressive exit velocities, but also plenty of swing-and-miss, particularly out of the zone. Tightening the strike zone, honing a better two-strike approach and using the whole field are all areas of focus for Thomas in 2025. His athleticism carries over to the field as well. He’s a plus runner with a strong arm who can handle all three outfield positions. He fits best in right field, where he has a chance to be a plus defender, though he played left field consistently for the first time in 2024, where he was a bit uncomfortable at times as he learned to refine reads and routes from a new position.

The Future: Skeptics wonder whether Thomas’ approach will hold up against big league pitchers, though no one denies his abundance of tools. He has the upside of a powerful everyday corner outfielder if he can make enough contact. He should make his big league debut at some point in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Thomas was a power-speed threat at Mercer, albeit with hit tool questions after batting .228 in the Cape Cod League in 2021. He was in the midst of a productive junior spring in 2022 until a right shoulder labrum injury in May required season-ending surgery. The A’s signed him for $750,000 in the third round that year, and he made his pro debut in 2023, hitting .286/.351/.493 across Low-A Stockton and High-A Lansing.

Scouting Report: Based on tools and athleticism, Thomas stacks up with almost any player in Oakland’s system. He has plus raw power, mostly geared toward right-center field, and averaged 104 mph 90th percentile exit velocity in 2023. Thomas’ plus running ability translates to both his defense and baserunning, where he stole 25 bases in 31 attempts. But there are concerns his hitting approach won’t hold up against better pitching. Thomas struck out 29.5% of the time compared to a 4.6% walk rate against High-A pitching. He chases too frequently, especially early in the count against breaking balls. Thomas plays with a high motor and covers plenty of ground defensively. He has a strong throwing arm, but his route-running needs refining. He’s likely best suited to right field.

The Future: Thomas has some of the higher upside among position players in Oakland’s system. There’s risk involved, though, and his pitch recognition and plate coverage require considerable refinement to help reach that ceiling.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55

Draft Prospects

School: Mercer Committed/Drafted: Orioles ’19 (37)
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 45/Extreme
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
Thomas has long intrigued scouts in Georgia thanks to his plus running ability, raw power and above-average defensive potential in the outfield. There were plenty of questions about his pure hitting ability, though, after his 2020 season was cut short due to Covid and he hit .247 in 2021 with a 23.9% strikeout rate. He hit .228/.301/.457 with 18 strikeouts and six walks in a 29-game Cape Cod League stint in 2021 but took a huge leap forward during the 2022 season with Mercer. He was one of the most productive hitters in college baseball, hitting .325/.451/.734 with 17 home runs, 14 doubles, 11 stolen bases and more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in 42 games. His season was cut short in May with a right shoulder injury that required labrum surgery. Thomas has a lean, 6-foot, 190-pound frame and works with an upright and open batting stance, with a sizable leg kick and uphill bat path geared for launching balls into the air. He does a nice job when he can get his hands extended and out over the plate but struggles on the inner half. Thomas will swing and miss against secondary offerings but has made plenty of contact against fastballs, though he admittedly didn’t face a large sample of 93-plus mph velocity in 2022. Thomas played right field for Mercer this spring but has the tools for center and the power and speed upside to excite teams, regardless of his health.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

BA Grade: 45/Extreme

August Update: Thomas has long intrigued scouts in Georgia thanks to his plus running ability, raw power and above-average defensive potential in the outfield. There were plenty of questions about his pure hitting ability, though, after his 2020 season was cut short due to Covid and he hit .247 in 2021 with a 23.9% strikeout rate. He hit .228/.301/.457 with 18 strikeouts and six walks in a 29-game Cape Cod League stint in 2021 but took a huge leap forward during the 2022 season with Mercer. He was one of the most productive hitters in college baseball, hitting .325/.451/.734 with 17 home runs, 14 doubles, 11 stolen bases and more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in 42 games. His season was cut short in May with a right shoulder injury that required labrum surgery. Thomas has a lean, 6-foot, 190-pound frame and works with an upright and open batting stance, with a sizable leg kick and uphill bat path geared for launching balls into the air. He does a nice job when he can get his hands extended and out over the plate but struggles on the inner half. Thomas will swing and miss against secondary offerings but has made plenty of contact against fastballs, though he admittedly didn’t face a large sample of 93-plus mph velocity in 2022.