PBR Illinois Player Of The Week: OF Alek Thomas
May 23, 2018
Alek Thomas has long been considered one of the top prospects in Illinois’ 2018 class. He’s reasserted those thoughts this spring as his state’s top-ranked senior prospect and is presently ranked No. 18 on PBR’s draft board. We’re less than two weeks away from this year’s MLB Draft and Thomas will be waiting patiently to hear his name on June 4, when rounds one through two will be held.
Meanwhile, in his final season as an amateur talent, Thomas is helping his Mount Carmel squad prepare for their postseason. The Texas Christian commit is coming off one of his best weeks yet at the plate. He and the rest of the Caravan played six games last week and made it to the semifinals of the prestigious Steven Bajenski Memorial Tournament.
Prior to the tournament, Thomas slugged two homers in Mount Carmel’s victory over Power 25-ranked Lincoln-Way East on May 12. The uber athletic outfielder played a typically enormous role over the next three games, too, prior to the start of the tournament – three more games the Caravan won.
Mount Carmel opened the Do It Stevie’s Way tourney against St. Rita on Friday. Normally, the Caravan don’t need any help on offense, but it was a close, low-scoring game and Thomas reached base three times in it. He led the game off with a triple and came around to score. His line-drive single to left scored the Caravan’s third run of the game and set them up for a big semifinals matchup with top-five-ranked St. Laurence. In that game, Mount Carmel suffered their first defeat in nearly two weeks, despite the heroics from Thomas in the box. Down 5-0, Thomas stood at the plate with the bases full in the bottom of the 5th and walloped a grand slam to bring his team within one. It was as close as they got, but it at least brought Thomas back into the spotlight as he heats up just as the draft and the postseason near.
Over the past six games, he’s 10-for-22 with three home runs and a triple, as well as 10 runs scored and nine RBIs from the top of Mount Carmel’s lineup game in and out. He only struck out twice over that span.
Alek Thomas (2.4.18)
On the spring, Thomas is slashing .427/.507/.752 with an OPS of 1.259. He’s smashed eight home runs, four triples, and six doubles and has struck out just four times in 142 plate appearances.
Mount Carmel will look to their offensive and defensive captain when it’s their turn in Regionals, starting this afternoon against Cicero Morton.
Stay tuned for our Weekly Diamond Notes that will be published this Friday. There we’ll take a look at players who narrowly missed out on a Player of the Week honor but deserve some recognition nonetheless.