Colby Thomas

Colby Grant Thomas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 190 lb.
• School Mercer University
• High School Valdosta High School
• Debut June 30, 2025

• Born January 26, 2001 in Valdosta, GA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Colby Thomas played for Team USA before making his major league debut in 2025.

Thomas was All-State as a high school senior. The Baltimore Orioles took him in the 37th round of the 2019 amateur draft but he went on to college. He hit .333/.403/.681 with 18 RBI in 16 games as a freshman in a season shortened by COVID-19. His first full season, he slipped to .247/.356/.479 but scored 40 times in 53 games. He played for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League that summer, batting .228/.301/.457.

In 2022, he hit .325/.451/.734 with 17 HR and 55 runs in 42 games, going 11-for-11 in steals. He won All-Southern Conference. The Oakland A's picked him in the third round of the 2022 amateur draft, the 95th pick overall, and he signed for a $750,000 bonus. He was selected one spot before Drake Baldwin, who would join him on Team USA two years later. His pro career began in 2023 with the Stockton Ports (.283/.364/.476 in 72 G) and Lansing Lugnuts (.290/.333/.516 in 54 G). He had 87 runs, 39 doubles, 6 triples, 18 homers, 82 RBI and 25 swipes (in 31 tries) for the year. He tied Darell Hernaiz for second in the A's chain in runs, led in doubles (four ahead of Max Muncy), tied for third in triples, tied Yohel Pozo for 5th in dingers, trailed only the similarly-named Cody Thomas in RBI and tied Jonny Butler for 5th in steals.

Continuing his ascent, he played in 2024 for the Midland RockHounds (.282/.340/.568 in 59 G) and Las Vegas Aviators (.272/.344/.559 in 73 G), with 79 runs, 44 doubles, 31 home runs, 92 RBI and 15 steals overall. He tied Carlos Perez for 4th in runs in the Oakland farm system, easily led in doubles (12 ahead of Henry Bolte), led in homers (4 ahead of Perez) and led in RBI (two more than Will Sampson). He was one double shy of Albert Almora for the minor league lead and tied Tim Tawa and Jason Vosler for 4th in home runs. Only Deyvison De Los Santos had more total bases in the minor leagues that year. That earned him a spot on the US roster for the 2024 Premier 12. In their opener against Puerto Rico, he batted 8th and started in left. He struck out facing Jonathan Bermúdez his first time up. His first hit was off the Netherlands' Dylan Farley.

He started the 2025 season in AAA with the Las Vegas Aviators, where he was hitting .297 in 76 games with 17 homers and 70 RBIs when he was called up by The Athletics, now based in West Sacramento, CA, on June 30th. He made his major league debut in that night's game, pinch-hitting for Tyler Soderstrom in the 8th inning, and then staying in the game in left field for the final two innings of a 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. He did make a huge play on defense, as he made a great throw to C Shea Langeliers to nab Brandon Lowe at the plate in the 8th, when the game was still tied.

Further Reading

• Martín Gallegos: "Thomas (A's No. 2 prospect) called up, makes huge play in MLB debut", mlb.com, June 30, 2025. [1]

Related Sites

• Colby Thomas on mlb.com
• BR Register page
• Mercer University bio