Lane Thomas

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Lane Thomas

|image = Lane Thomas 2022 (cropped).jpg

|caption = Thomas with the Nationals in 2022

|team = Cleveland Guardians

|number = 8

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|8|23}}

|birth_place = Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 17

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 13, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .244

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 73

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 249

|stat4label = Stolen bases

|stat4value = 69

|teams =

St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Cleveland Guardians ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}}

}}

Lane Michael Thomas (born August 23, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Thomas in the 2014 MLB draft. He played in their minor league system for four years before he was traded to the Cardinals in 2017. He made his MLB debut with the team in 2019, but struggled with injuries and was unable to find consistent playing time before he was traded to the Nationals during the 2021 season, with whom he became their starting center fielder. The Nationals traded him to the Guardians in 2024.

Amateur career

Thomas attended Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee.{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Drew |date=August 23, 2018 |title=St. Louis Cardinals: Outfielder Lane Thomas' peculiar journey from NHRA to baseball |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2018/08/23/memphis-redbirds-lane-thomas-st-louis-cardinals-nhra-mike-thomas/1068792002/ |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=The Commercial Appeal |language=en-US}} As a sophomore, he committed to play college baseball at the University of Tennessee.{{cite web|last=Blackerby |first=Mike |url=http://archive.knoxnews.com/sports/high-school/beardens-lane-thomas-commits-to-play-at-tennessee-ep-360172233-356727811.html/ |title=Bearden's Lane Thomas commits to play at Tennessee |publisher=Archive.knoxnews.com |date=August 25, 2012 |access-date=December 5, 2018}} During the summer of 2013, he played for Team USA in the 2013 18U Baseball World Cup in Taichung.{{Cite web |last=Smithey |first=Jesse |date=August 22, 2013 |title=Bearden's Lane Thomas makes USA Baseball 18-under team |url=https://archive.knoxnews.com/sports/high-school/beardens-lane-thomas-makes-usa-baseball-18-under-team-ep-510503571-355547301.html/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=Knox News}} In 2014, as a senior, he batted .410 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs.{{cite web |date=June 25, 2014 |title=Bearden's Thomas named 1st Team HS baseball All-American | USA TODAY High School Sports |url=https://www.usatodayhss.com/story/sports/high-school/2014/06/25/beardens-thomas-named-1st-team-hs-baseball-all-american/81031857007/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=USA Today High School Sports}} Following his senior year, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web |last=Rucker |first=Wes |date=June 6, 2014 |title=Vols signee Lane Thomas drafted by Toronto Blue Jays |url=https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/article/vols-signee-lane-thomas-drafted-by-toronto-blue-jays-29010415/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=247sports.com}}

Professional career

=Toronto Blue Jays=

Thomas signed with the Blue Jays for $750,000, forgoing his college commitment.{{cite web |author=Steve Adams |date=June 10, 2014 |title=Blue Jays Sign Fifth-Rounder Thomas Above Slot |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/06/blue-jays-sign-fifth-rounder-thomas-above-slot.html |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}

Thomas made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays before being reassigned to the Bluefield Blue Jays. In 52 games between the two clubs, he batted .281 with one home run and 19 RBIs. In 2015, he played for both the Vancouver Canadians{{cite web |author=Caskey |first=Charlie |date=September 4, 2015 |title=Vancouver Canadians Fall Short in Their Strive for Six |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/community-blogs/vancouver-canadians-fall-short-in-their-strive-for-six |access-date=December 5, 2018 |work=Vancouver Sun}} and the Lansing Lugnuts, hitting a combined .206 with five home runs and 35 RBIs in 52 total games. He spent 2016 with Lansing where he compiled a .216 batting average with seven home runs, 27 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 81 games.{{cite web |last=Crawford |first=Brian |date=January 5, 2017 |title=Lane Thomas Improving All-Around |url=http://jaysprospects.com/2017/01/05/lane-thomas-improving-around/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214054147/https://jaysprospects.com/2017/01/05/lane-thomas-improving-around/ |archive-date=February 14, 2017 |website=JaysProspects}} He began 2017 with the Dunedin Blue Jays.{{cite web |date=June 27, 2017 |title=Thomas leads Dunedin past Bradenton in FSL | Bradenton Herald |url=https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article158550379.html |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=Bradenton Herald}}

=St. Louis Cardinals=

File:Lane Thomas (48327188887) (cropped).jpg in 2019]]

On July 2, 2017, Toronto traded Thomas to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for international signing bonus cap space.lane thomas traded to cardinals St. Louis assigned him to the Palm Beach Cardinals, but he played in only nine games due to injury. In 82 total games between Dunedin and Palm Beach, he hit .252 with four home runs and 41 RBIs. Thomas began the 2018 season with the Springfield Cardinals where he was named a Texas League All-Star.{{cite web |author= |date=June 22, 2018 |title=Lane Thomas Honored by All-Star Nod |url=https://www.ozarksfirst.com/sports/lane-thomas-honored-by-all-star-nod/1257016983/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=Ozarks First}} He was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds in late July{{Cite web |last=Hooth |first=Trevor |date=July 29, 2018 |title=St. Louis Cardinals: Lane Thomas promoted to Memphis |url=https://redbirdrants.com/2018/07/29/st-louis-cardinals-thomas-memphis/ |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Redbird Rants |language=en-US}} and finished the season there, helping the Redbirds win the 2018 Triple-A National Championship Game.{{cite web|last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/memphis-redbirds-win-triple-a-championship/c-295166156 |title=Memphis Redbirds win Triple-A Championship |work=MLB.com |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=December 5, 2018}} In 132 games between Springfield and Memphis, Thomas slashed .264/.333/.489 with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.{{cite web |title=Lane Thomas Stats, Highlights, Bio |url=https://www.milb.com/player/lane-thomas-657041#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=MiLB.com}} He was assigned to play for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League after the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&sid=l119&cid=542|title=Roster : Surprise Saguaros|work=MLB.com|access-date=April 17, 2019}}

The Cardinals added Thomas to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.{{cite web |date=November 20, 2018 |title=Cardinals' Lane Thomas: Added to 40-man roster |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-lane-thomas-added-to-40-man-roster/ |access-date=April 17, 2019 |work=CBS Sports |agency=RotoWire}} He returned to Memphis to begin 2019.{{Cite web |last=St John |first=Andrew |date=April 4, 2019 |title=Depth and the Memphis Juggernaut |url=https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2019/4/4/18295242/depth-and-the-memphis-juggernaut |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Viva El Birdos |language=en}} On April 17, he was recalled to the major leagues for the first time{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/bader-goes-on-il-with-hamstring-strain-cards-recall-thomas/article_8707964b-11e4-5ba1-99ef-12ab5184b724.html|title=Bader goes on IL with hamstring strain; Cards recall Thomas|last=Hummel|first=Rick|publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=April 17, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2019}} and he made his major league debut that same day at Miller Park against the Milwaukee Brewers.{{Cite web |last=Totoraitis |first=Joe |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Wacha, Cardinals cool off Yelich, beat Brewers 6-3 |url=https://apnews.com/wacha-cardinals-cool-off-yelich-beat-brewers-6-3-cf656fc478d747dc92d09c65fa56ffc8 |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=Associated Press}} On April 19, against the New York Mets at Busch Stadium, he hit a home run in his first major league at bat. On August 11, Thomas hit his first ever major league grand slam.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Mike |date=April 20, 2019 |title=Bearden grad Lane Thomas homers in first at-bat with St. Louis Cardinals |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/local/2019/04/20/lane-thomas-st-louis-cardinals-home-run-bearden/3530410002/ |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |language=en}} On August 30, he was placed on the 10-day injured list after being hit in his right wrist.{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2019 |title=Cardinals' Lane Thomas: Out with fractured wrist |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-lane-thomas-out-with-fractured-wrist/ |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en |agency=RotoWire}} On September 1, he was transferred to the 60-day injured list, effectively ending his season.{{Cite web |date=September 2019 |title=Cardinals' Lane Thomas: Moves to 60-day IL |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-lane-thomas-moves-to-60-day-il/ |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en |agency=RotoWire}} Over 44 plate appearances with St. Louis, he hit .316 with four home runs.{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2019 |title=Thomas hits IL with fractured wrist, O'Neill recalled from minors |url=http://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/thomas-hits-il-with-fractured-wrist-oneill-recalled-from-memphis-083019 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}}

Thomas began the 2020 season with St. Louis. On August 9, it was announced he had tested positive for COVID-19.{{Cite web |last=Goold |first=Derrick |date=August 10, 2020 |title=Bad news keeps coming for Cardinals: Another positive test, another series postponed |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/bad-news-keeps-coming-for-cardinals-another-positive-test-another-series-postponed/article_f57197d4-b85f-5b2c-9f64-3f3d21b5dd30.html |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} He returned to play in October, and ended the season batting .111 with one home run over 18 games. In 2021, Thomas did not make the Opening Day roster.{{Cite web |last=Silver |first=Zachary |date=April 1, 2021 |title=Cardinals finalize 2021 Opening Day roster |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-2021-opening-day-roster |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=MLB.com}} He split time between Memphis and St. Louis during the 2021 season before being traded, batting .104 in 58 plate appearances with the big league team.

=Washington Nationals=

On July 30, 2021, Thomas was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for starting pitcher Jon Lester.{{cite web |last=Silver |first=Zachary |date=July 30, 2021 |title=Cards add veteran arms Lester, Happ |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jon-lester-trade-2021 |access-date=March 10, 2025 |work=MLB.com}} Thomas was called up in August 2021 and soon became the Nationals' everyday center fielder, supplanting Victor Robles.{{cite news |last=Camerato |first=Jessica |date=August 25, 2021 |title=Martinez sticking with Thomas in CF for Nats |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/lane-thomas-solid-for-nationals-in-victor-robles-absence |accessdate=September 10, 2021 |work=MLB.com}}{{cite news |last=Zuckerman |first=Mark |date=September 1, 2021 |title=What's Robles' future with the Nationals now? |url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/what-s-robles-future-with-the-nationals-now |accessdate=March 10, 2025 |work=MASN Sports}} Over 45 games with Washington, Thomas slashed .270/.364/.489 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=December 3, 2021 |title=Nationals' Under-The-Radar Deadline Pickup Off To Strong Start In D.C. |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/nationals-under-the-radar-deadline-pickup-off-to-strong-start-in-d-c.html |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}

On June 3, 2022, Thomas enjoyed his first career three-home run game in a contest against the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web |date=June 3, 2022 |title=Lane Thomas' three-homer game | 06/03/2022 |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/thomas-three-home-run-game |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=MLB.com}} In 2022 with the Nationals, he played in 146 games, led the majors in percentage of balls hit safely (23.2%), and batted .241/.301/.404 with 17 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 26 doubles.{{cite web |title=Splits Leaderboards |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/splits-leaderboards?splitArr=&splitArrPitch=&position=B&autoPt=false&splitTeams=false&statType=player&statgroup=3&startDate=2022-03-01&endDate=2022-11-01&players=&filter=PA%7Cgt%7C512&groupBy=season&wxTemperature=&wxPressure=&wxAirDensity=&wxElevation=&wxWindSpeed=&sort=15,1 |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=FanGraphs}}

On January 13, 2023, Thomas agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Nationals, avoiding salary arbitration.{{Cite web |last=Dierkes |first=Tim |date=January 14, 2023 |title=2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-arbitration-tracker.html |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

In 2023, Thomas became the Nationals primary right fielder and enjoyed a breakout season, batting .268 and setting career highs with 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases.{{Cite web |title=Lane Thomas - Stats - Batting |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/lane-thomas/16939/stats?position=OF#dashboard |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=FanGraphs Baseball |language=en}}

On January 11, 2024, Thomas and the Nationals agreed to a one-year contract worth $5.45 million to avoid salary arbitration.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2024 |title=Nats agree to terms with all four eligible players before arbitration deadline (updated) |url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/four-nationals-face-arbitration-deadline |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=MASNsports.com |language=en-us}} In 77 games prior to being traded, Thomas hit .253/.331/.407 with 8 home runs and 40 RBIs.

=Cleveland Guardians=

On July 29, 2024, Thomas was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for Alex Clemmey, José Tena, and Rafael Ramírez Jr.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Jesse |title=Nationals deal outfielder Lane Thomas to Guardians |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40676695/nationals-deal-outfielder-lane-thomas-guardians |access-date=July 29, 2024 |work=ESPN.com |date=July 29, 2024}} In 53 regular season games with Cleveland, Thomas hit .209/.267/.390 with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs.

On October 12, in Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Thomas hit a grand slam off Tarik Skubal in the bottom of the fifth for the Guardians to take the lead at 5–1 and propel them to the ALCS for the first time since 2016 with a 7–3 win.{{cite web |date=October 12, 2024 |title=Lane Thomas' grand slam |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/lane-thomas-hits-a-grand-slam-2-to-left-center-field-steven-kwan-scores-d |access-date=October 12, 2024 |website=MLB.com}}{{cite web|last=Bell |first=Mandy |title='You dream of at-bats like that': Thomas' slam guides Guardians to ALCS |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/lane-thomas-hits-grand-slam-for-guardians-in-alds-game-5 |website=MLB.com |date=October 12, 2024 |access-date=October 12, 2024}} In 10 playoff games, Thomas hit .222 with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs as the Guardians made it to ALCS.

Personal life

Thomas co-owns Knox Cabinet Co., a home remodeling business, with his sister alongside another co-owner.{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2018 |title=Introducing Knox Cabinet Co. |url=http://www.everythingknoxville.com/2018/10/01/introducing-knox-cabinet-co/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=Everything Knoxville}}

Thomas married Chase Henry on January 21, 2023, in Panama City Beach, Florida.{{cite web |title=Chase Henry and Lane Thomas' Wedding Website |url=https://www.zola.com/wedding/chaseandlane |website=www.zola.com |access-date=June 17, 2024 |language=en}} On October 30, 2023, their son was born.{{Cite Instagram |postid=CzHhrviPOiR |user=chasehenrythomas |title=half of you, half of me💙 |first=Chase Henry |last=Thomas |date=November 1, 2023 |access-date=March 10, 2025}}