Colby Thomas

Colby Grant Thomas (born January 26, 2001) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Colby Thomas
Athletics – No. 32
Outfielder
Born: (2001-01-26) January 26, 2001 (age 24) Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 30, 2025, for the Athletics
MLB statistics (through August 3, 2025)
Batting average	.120
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	1
Teams
Athletics (2025–present)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  United States WBSC Premier12 2024 Tokyo Team

Amateur career

Thomas attended Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia, where he played baseball. As a senior in 2019, he hit .416 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.^[1] Thomas was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 37th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead enrolled at Mercer University to play college baseball.^[2]

Thomas played in 16 games as a freshman for Mercer in 2020 before the season was cancelled, batting .333 with five home runs and 18 RBIs.^[3] He hit .247 with ten home runs and 37 RBIs over 53 games as a sophomore in 2021. Thomas then played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Bourne Braves where he batted .228 with four home runs over 29 games.^[4][5][6] As a junior in 2022, he hit .325 with 17 home runs and 45 RBIs over 42 games before a shoulder injury ended his season.^[7] He committed to transfer to the University of Florida following the season's end.^[8]

Professional career

Thomas was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the third round (95th overall) of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft and signed.^[9][10][11] He made his professional debut in 2023 with the Single-A Stockton Ports and was promoted to the High-A Lansing Lugnuts in early July.^[12] Over 126 appearances for the two affiliates, Thomas slashed .286/.351/.493 with 18 home runs, 82 RBI, 39 doubles, and 25 stolen bases.^[13]

Thomas was assigned to the Double-A Midland RockHounds to open the 2024 season.^[14] In mid-June, he was promoted to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.^[15] In 132 games split between the two affiliates, Thomas batted .277 with 31 home runs, 92 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.^[16] During the offseason he played for Team USA in the Premier 12 Tournament.^[17]

Thomas was assigned to Las Vegas to open the 2025 season and hit a home run in the team's season opener.^[18][19] In 76 appearances for the Aviators, he slashed .297/.365/.542 with 17 home runs, 70 RBI, and seven stolen bases. On June 30, 2025, Thomas was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[20] He made his MLB debut that night as a pinch-hitter versus the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.^[21] Thomas recorded his first MLB hit the next day, a double off of Shane Baz.^[22]