Connor Thomas

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Connor Thomas

|image = May 2017 GT vs. UGA baseball - Connor Thomas (cropped).jpg

|caption = Thomas with Georgia Tech in 2017

|team = Milwaukee Brewers

|number = 57

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|5|29}}

|birth_place = Tifton, Georgia, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = March 29

|debutyear = 2025

|debutteam = Milwaukee Brewers

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 5, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 20.25

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 5

|teams =

Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Sidney Connor Thomas (born May 29, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Amateur career

Thomas attended Tift County High School in Tifton, Georgia.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-03 |title=WALB Student-Athlete of the Week (3/2/16): Tift's Thomas striving towards goals |url=https://www.walb.com/story/31372226/saotw-connor-thomas/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=WALB.com |language=en}} As a junior in 2015, he went 8–1 with a 0.67 ERA.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Becky |date=June 9, 2019 |title=Dreams achieved for local draft picks |url=https://www.tiftongazette.com/sports/dreams-achieved-for-local-draft-picks/article_33b4eb0c-8a32-11e9-af64-d7c730e4a72c.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201636/https://www.tiftongazette.com/sports/dreams-achieved-for-local-draft-picks/article_33b4eb0c-8a32-11e9-af64-d7c730e4a72c.html |archive-date=2021-06-24 |website=Tifton Gazette}} Unselected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Georgia Tech where he played college baseball.

In 2017, as a freshman at Georgia Tech, Thomas pitched {{frac|10|1|3}} innings in which he gave up 13 earned runs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/georgia-tech-connor-thomas-goes-from-calculus-failure-acc-star/dO6vFql5I0oiUnRIhcmaWI/|title = Georgia Tech's Connor Thomas goes from calculus failure to ACC star|newspaper = The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1 = Sugiura|first1 = Ken}} As a sophomore, he moved into the starting rotation, going 7–4 with a 3.34 ERA and 106 strikeouts over 97 innings and fifteen games.{{Cite web |last=Gillespie |first=Mike |date=2018-10-06 |title=Gamecock baseball visits Georgia Tech for Saturday scrimmage |url=https://www.abccolumbia.com/2018/10/06/gamecock-baseball-visits-georgia-tech-for-saturday-scrimmage/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=ABC Columbia |language=en-US}} In 2019, his junior year, Thomas made 16 starts in which he compiled a 9–2 record and 3.11 ERA over 113 innings.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-20 |title=Thomas Named ACC Pitcher of the Week |url=https://ramblinwreck.com/thomas-named-acc-pitcher-of-the-week-2/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |language=en-US}}

Professional career

=St. Louis Cardinals=

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Thomas in the fifth round, with the 155th overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/ga_fl_news/thomas-selected-by-st-louis-cardinals/article_0ce0e2e2-7776-5619-a23e-3e2e50c55ea5.html|title=Thomas selected by St. Louis Cardinals|first=Becky|last=Taylor|website=Valdosta Daily Times|date=June 5, 2019 }} Thomas signed with the Cardinals and made his professional debut with the State College Spikes of the Low-A New York–Penn League before being promoted to the Peoria Chiefs of the Single-A Midwest League in July. Over 43 innings pitched between the two clubs, he went 4–1 with a 3.77 ERA.{{Cite news |last1=Saxon |first1=Mark |date=2020-05-20 |title=Grading the Cards' 2019 Draft: A promising lefty and toolsy outfielder stand out |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1826196/2020/05/20/grading-cards-2019-draft-promising-lefty-toolsy-outfielder-stand-out/ |url-access=registration |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=The Athletic}} Thomas did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=April 18, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

To begin the 2021 season, Thomas was assigned to the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Central.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-30 |title=Springfield Cardinals announce 2021 preliminary Opening Day roster |url=https://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2021/04/30/springfield-cardinals-announce-2021-preliminary-opening-day-roster/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Ozarks Sports Zone |language=en-US}} After compiling a 4.87 ERA over {{frac|20|1|3}} innings, he was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A East.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Becky |date=June 2, 2021 |title=Cardinals promote Connor Thomas |url=https://www.tiftongazette.com/sports/cardinals-promote-connor-thomas/article_28d75024-c3b7-11eb-b156-73165a67a624.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602200637/https://www.tiftongazette.com/sports/cardinals-promote-connor-thomas/article_28d75024-c3b7-11eb-b156-73165a67a624.html |archive-date=2021-06-02 |website=The Tifton Gazette}} Over 22 games (14 starts) with Memphis, Thomas went 6–4 with a 3.10 ERA and 92 strikeouts over {{fraction|101|2|3}} innings.{{Cite news |last1=Law |first1=Keith |date=2022-02-08 |title=Cardinals' top 20 prospects for 2022: Keith Law ranks St. Louis' farm system |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3113128/2022/02/08/cardinals-top-20-prospects-for-2022-keith-law-ranks-st-louis-farm-system/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=The Athletic}} Thomas returned to Memphis for the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Guerrero |first=Daniel |date=2022-04-03 |title=Pipeline isn't loaded, but several top-end prospects could help the Cardinals soon |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/pipeline-isnt-loaded-but-several-top-end-prospects-could-help-the-cardinals-soon/article_45c95398-ce17-5238-a199-9605b8092a01.html |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}} Over 28 games (25 starts), he posted a 6–12 record with a 5.47 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 135 innings.{{Cite web |title=Connor Thomas Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/connor-thomas-671162?season=2022&team=235 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) for the Salt River Rafters after the season.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/biloxi/news/shuckers-2023-roster-release | title=2023 Biloxi Shuckers Initial Roster Announced }} He compiled a 1.75 ERA and 34 strikeouts over {{frac|25|2|3}} innings and was named the AFL Pitcher of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Borek |first=Jesse |date=2022-11-13 |title=Cards' Thomas named Fall League's Pitcher of the Year |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/connor-thomas-of-cardinals-wins-afl-pitcher-of-the-year-award |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}}

On November 15, 2022, the Cardinals selected Thomas' contract and added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web |last=Denton |first=John |date=2022-11-16 |title=Cards add No. 24 prospect Thomas to 40-man |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-add-top-prospect-connor-thomas-to-40-man-roster |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} Thomas was optioned to Memphis to begin the 2023 season.{{Cite web |title=Cardinals' Connor Thomas: Optioned to Triple-A level |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-connor-thomas-optioned-to-triple-a-level/amp/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.cbssports.com}} He played the whole season there, appearing in 21 games (17 starts) and going 5–4 with a 5.53 ERA and 69 strikeouts over {{frac|94|1|3}} innings. Thomas was designated for assignment on November 14, 2023, after multiple prospects were added to the 40-man roster.{{Cite web |last=Polishuk |first=Mark |date=2023-11-14 |title=Cardinals Announce Six Roster Moves |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/cardinals-announce-six-roster-moves.html |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on November 16.{{Cite web|title=Cardinals Outright Connor Thomas|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/cardinals-outright-connor-thomas.html|access-date=April 18, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Thomas returned to Memphis for the 2024 campaign, posting a 7-4 record and 2.89 ERA with 79 strikeouts and three saves in {{fraction|90|1|3}} innings pitched across 56 appearances.{{Cite web|title=From the Cardinals to the Brewers, Rule 5 pick Connor Thomas embraces new opportunity|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2025/02/26/rule-5-pick-connor-thomas-has-a-golden-opportunity-with-the-brewers/80469206007/|access-date=April 18, 2025|website=jsonline.com|language=en}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On December 11, 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Thomas in the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|title=Brewers pick up a pair of left-handed pitchers, one in Rule 5 draft and another on one-year deal|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2024/12/11/brewers-pick-lhp-connor-thomas-in-rule-5-draft-sign-lhp-grant-wolfram/76899400007/|access-date=December 11, 2024|website=jsonline.com|language=en}} On March 22, 2025, the Brewers announced that Thomas had made the team's Opening Day roster.{{Cite web|title=Brewers To Include Rule 5 Pick Connor Thomas On Opening Day Roster|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/brewers-to-include-rule-5-pick-connor-thomas-on-opening-day-roster.html|access-date=March 22, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He made two appearances for Milwaukee before being placed on the injured list with left elbow arthritis on April 8.{{Cite web|title=Rule 5 Draft Update: April Edition|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/rule-5-draft-update-april-edition.html|access-date=May 18, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} Thomas was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 18.{{Cite web|title=Brewers Select Easton McGee, Option Tobias Myers|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/brewers-select-easton-mcgee-option-tobias-myers.html|access-date=May 18, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}