Chicago Cubs Prospect Profile: Tony Thomas

The Cubs selected Tony Thomas in the third round of the 2007 draft. Thomas opened a lot of eyes while at Florida State. Thomas hit for a .430 average with a .948 OPS and 31 stolen bases all while leading the NCAA in runs, doubles, and total bases. Thomas fell to the third round in the draft because many scouts felt he was a finished product offensively. Scouts doubted his range at second base and his overall defensive abilities, but he has shown improvement defensively.

Thomas quickly put up very solid numbers at Boise (short season A-) in 2007 to the tune of .308/.404/.544/.948 with 12 doubles, eight triples, five home runs, 28 stolen bases (30 attempts) and 25 walks in on only 46 games.

Tony Thomas has the ability to spray the ball to all fields with solid gap power ... and he will hit the occasional home run as well. He has good contact skills with a nice level swing; plus he has a patient approach at the plate. Thomas has also shown the ability to hit the ball where it's pitched instead of trying to pull everything. He can shoot the ball back up the middle quickly with his fast wrists, pull the ball, or spray it around the field.

Thomas isn't going to be a big home run hitter maybe 10 to 15 a year, but will have a good amount of doubles and some triples. He isn't a burner on the base paths, but has solid speed with good instincts. Granted Thomas will steal some bases due to his quick first step. Thomas has proved he is smart on the bases as well and knows how to use his speed, which has been graded between 60-65 on the 20 to 80 scale.

Thomas is currently having a good season at Tennessee (AA) hitting .277/.376/.452/.828 with 14 doubles, two triples, five home runs and six stolen bases in seven attempts.

The Cubs need a second baseman with some pop in his bat. Ryan Theriot's offense was adequate for shortstop but for second base it is sub-par. Could Thomas, Ryan Flaherty or D.J. LeMahieu be that guy?

The Cubs have had an offensive hole at second base since Mark DeRosa was traded to the Indians.

Full Name: Anthony Thomas Jr.
Age: 23 (July 10, 1986)
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 180
Position: Second Base
Bats/Throws: R/R

Tony Thomas' Page on Baseball-Reference.com

CCO Prospect Profiles

ripsnorter

I wonder if the Ricketts family hasn't already pulled a Neil Huntington signing with JHendry. Huntington, the Pirates incompetent GM, was granted an extension by the Pirates incompetent owner. Since they knew the fams wanted to lynch Huntington, they wisely kept it secret for six-eight months. Frankly, the the stupidity running knee-deep in Rickettsland these days, such a brilliant move would not surprise me in the least.

Neil

Hendry signed an extension with the Cubs in October of 2008 that runs through the 2012 season. Reports at the time were all prospective buyers of the club signed off on the extension.

John_CC

The D-Backs shit-canned HInch and thier young, former phenom GM, Byrnes.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-diamondbacksshakeup

The Diamondbacks have seen enough. They signed gave Byrnes an 8 year contract just a few years ago! And still have the balls to can him with 4 left. It seems like a knee-jerk move, but I like the fact they are taking action.

Surely the Ricketts are paying attention. Byrnes is 40 years old and has had some good mentors. Maybe in an organization that had $$ he could thrive. I'd give him a chance.

John G.

JC, see my post on the previous article. If he fires LP this weekend, and installs Allan Trammell as interim manager, then old friends and former teammates Trammell and Gibson can face each other next week.

John_CC

That would be a good matchup for nostaglia. I was a grade school boy in Michigan during the Tigers championship run in...yes, 1984, which was also the season that cemented me as a young boy with this affliction known as Cubs fan.

Here's another column on Byrnes and the D-Backs. I like Passan at yahoo, his perspective is generally sound.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqK8u_mWin_r0eTt6rvNFokRvLYF?slug=jp-dbacks070110

slamdog sadowski

Help is in our organization, maybe in the form or Barney for at least a year or in Thomas in a couple of years or in Hak Ju Lee in a few or Logan Watkins, its just too bad that we couldnt have got this prospect thing going a few years ago!

Keith Moreland

Good profile, but Tony Thomas is a fringy prospect at best from what I have read. Like Ty Wright, he needs to move fast at his age, and show a big leap at AAA, to be thought of as legit ML material.

We are probably looking for 2B help this offseason at the ML level; help is not in our organization

Patrick S.

He is a Fringe prospect, yet so was theriot. And Soto he had one break out minor league year. Anything is possible. I'm not saying he is going to make it but he does have potential.