Clete Thomas
Thomas with the Minnesota Twins
Outfielder
Born: (1983-11-14) November 14, 1983
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
March 31, 2008, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 2013, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Batting average.233
Home runs13
Runs batted in65
Teams

Michael Clete Thomas (born November 14, 1983) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder who played for the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins between 2008 and 2013.

Career

Amateur

Thomas was born in Jacksonville, Florida and began his baseball career at Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida where he was a part of the state championship team in 2002.[1] Played in Little League World Series 1996 with RL Turner Little League Panama City Florida

Thomas attended Auburn University, where he played right field and batted .328 on the 2005 team which lost to Florida State in the NCAA regional tournament. In 2004, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2][3] After his junior year, Thomas was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 2005 MLB Draft.

Minor leagues

Initially assigned to the Oneonta Tigers in the New York–Penn League, Thomas was promoted to the West Michigan Whitecaps on July 13, and proceeded to appear in 51 games, hitting .284.[4][5][6]

Thomas spent the 2006 season with the Lakeland Tigers, where he appeared in 132 games and hit .257 with 40 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. In 2007, he was promoted to Erie, where he hit .280 with 53 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Thomas, along with fellow outfielder Matt Joyce, was considered a likely future major leaguer. Commenting on the two, then-Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski remarked that "We think they're both prospects...We're not counting on them for this year, but they've got a chance to play at the Triple-A level (this season), depending on how they do this spring."[6][7]

Detroit Tigers

A non-roster invitee to 2008 spring training, Thomas made the team after starting center fielder Curtis Granderson broke a finger and went on the disabled list.[8] On Opening Day 2008, Thomas entered the game as a defensive replacement and made his first major league putout against Joey Gathright of the Kansas City Royals. Thomas later hit a double in the bottom of the 11th inning off Royals closer Joakim Soria for his first major league hit.[9][10]

Thomas split time in the 2008 Major League Baseball season between the Tigers and the AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens. On April 23, Thomas was optioned to the Tigers' AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens when Curtis Granderson was activated from the disabled list.[11] Thomas was recalled from Toledo May 29 to replace struggling Matt Joyce.[12] On June 4, Thomas sprained his ankle and went on the disabled list. He was replaced by Brent Clevlen. Thomas returned to the active roster on June 18, 2008.[13]

On May 5, 2009, Thomas was called back up to the Detroit Tigers in a game against the Minnesota Twins.[14] In the game, Thomas went three for four with a single, double, and triple, making him a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. On June 7, 2009, against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Thomas hit the first grand slam of his career off Angels reliever Jason Bulger to break a 5–5 eighth-inning tie.

On June 12, 2009, Detroit optioned Thomas back to Toledo and called up Don Kelly. Said manager Jim Leyland: "I think he has a shot to be an everyday player, but he has to shorten up his swing...he will be back."

On July 9, 2009, Thomas was recalled from Toledo, and Don Kelly was sent back to Toledo.[15]

Thomas has two walk-off hits in 2009. On August 3, 2009, Thomas hit his first career walk-off home run against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Danys Báez and on August 20, 2009, Thomas hit a walk-off single to beat the Seattle Mariners 7–6.

Thomas spent all of 2010 and 2011 at Triple-A after not making the Tigers roster. In 2010, Thomas played 21 games and hit .183 over that time. In 2011, he hit .251 with 12 home runs in 113 games.

Minnesota Twins

On April 14, 2012, Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. Thomas joined the Twins for their April 15, 2012, game at Target Field. He hit a two-run home run in his first game with the Twins against Texas Rangers pitcher Neftalí Feliz.[16]

On May 5, 2012, Thomas was designated for assignment by the Twins. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the Twins' Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, New York.[17]

Thomas began 2013 with Rochester as their center fielder. In 36 games with the Red Wings, he hit .296/.385/.576 with 9 HR and 25 RBI before being promoted. One June 3, Thomas was called up by Minnesota as an extra outfielder because Wilkin Ramírez was dealing with a concussion.[18] On June 10, starting center fielder Aaron Hicks was placed on the disabled list, opening the door for Thomas. When Hicks returned on July 2, Thomas was moved into a fourth outfielder role. During the All-Star break, left fielder Oswaldo Arcia was optioned to Rochester, and Thomas took over there. On August 2, Hicks was optioned to Rochester and Arcia was recalled, sliding Thomas over to center field. On August 31, the Twins acquired Alex Presley from the Pirates, and Presley started at center field in September, moving Thomas into a reserve role. In 92 games for the Twins, mostly in center field, Thomas hit .214/.290/.307 with 4 HR, 13 RBI, 39 R and 92 SO. He was outrighted off the roster on October 2, 2013.

Philadelphia Phillies

Thomas signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 15, 2013. He was released on August 12, 2014.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Milner, Brad (June 28, 2008). "Turning 12 Part III: Living the dream". The News Herald. Panama City. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  2. ↑ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ↑ "2004 Harwich Mariners". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Draft may be Caps' cure; Lower-level leagues won't be providing help". Grand Rapids Press. June 21, 2005. p. D8.
  5. ↑ "'Caps rally at home; Frazier's 2-run double in 8th lifts West Michigan". Grand Rapids Press. July 14, 2005. p. D3.
  6. 1 2 "Clete Thomas Statistics (Minor Leagues)". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  7. ↑ Morosi, Jon Paul (November 9, 2007). "Dombrowski has inklings of deals but no inkings". Detroit Free Press.
  8. ↑ "Tigers tell Thomas to suit up; Outfielder probable for opening-day roster". Grand Rapids Press. March 28, 2008. p. D5.
  9. ↑ March 31, 2008 Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score - Baseball-Reference.com
  10. ↑ Morosi, Jon Paul (March 31, 2008). "Inge, rookie Thomas give Royals pain". Detroit Free Press.
  11. ↑ Grandy's back! Tigers' Curtis Granderson to play, lead off tonight | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
  12. ↑ Tigers send Matt Joyce to Toledo; Clete Thomas to take his spot | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
  13. ↑ McCauley, Janie (June 18, 2008). "Polanco leads Tigers past Giants". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2008-06-22. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  14. ↑ "Guillen goes on DL; Ordonez dropped". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 5, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  15. ↑ McDill, Kent (June 11, 2009). "Tigers send down Clete Thomas, call up Don Kelly". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  16. ↑ Bollinger, Rhett (April 15, 2012). "Perkins can't protect lead for solid Hendriks". Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  17. ↑ Schmehl, James (May 6, 2012). "Ex-Tiger Clete Thomas clears waivers, assigned to Minnesota Twins' Triple-A affiliate". MLive.com. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  18. ↑ Berardino, Mike (June 4, 2013). "Minnesota Twins' Clete Thomas calls promotion 'a pleasant surprise'". Pioneer Press.
  19. ↑ Miller, Phil (November 15, 2013). "Twins' 2013 leader in OF games signs with Phillies". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
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