Commitment Spotlight: 18' Noah Thomas, OF/LHP, East Ridge
December 11, 2017
Today our spotlight will shine on East Ridge senior Noah Thomas. This 5'9, 155lbs senior is a grinder that takes on the personality of his East Ridge team. At the plate Noah has a simple to the zone swing that keeps the barrel on a good path with some longevity in the zone. Not surprisingly this creates consistent line drive production from maintained leverage throughout. In the outfield the left-hander reads the ball well off the bat and uses 6.63 60 speed to track down otherwise hits in the gaps. The continued development of his lower half and it's use in the throwing motion will only add more tools to Noah's toolbox. East Ridge will be looking to improve on an appearance in the section finals last year and represent a tough section in the state tournament. We wish the best to Noah in the coming season and in your future at Augsburg!
PBR: Why did you choose Augsburg?
One of the primary reasons I chose Augsburg was the great coaching staff there. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Bateman and love his passion for the game and his coaching style. I visited the campus a couple of times and met a lot of the current players, which really helped me see that the school and baseball program were a great fit.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
I was also considering St. Scholastica, Hamline, Upper Iowa, and UW-Stout.
PBR: Where did the Augsburg staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them (Phone calls, on-campus visits, etc.)?
The coaching staff saw me at a few different local events, including PBR showcases. They also attended a few of my fall games with the MN Blizzard. Over the past few months Coach Bateman and Coach Lieser have been in contact over the phone and through email on a weekly basis. I got to know them really well during this process and learned about their goals for the baseball program.
PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put Augsburg over the top?
Definitely the coaching staff. I could see that Coach Bateman and Coach Lieser are dedicated to the program and invested in the success of the players both on and off the field. I also really liked the sports vibe at Augsburg, all the athletic programs compete to win and support each other.
PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
My dad, he was always willing to throw me BP or hit fly balls any time / any day. He was always there to support me and help me achieve my goals. The MN Blizzard program has been great for my development and allowed me an opportunity to compete with and against some great players. Also, working out at ETS Gym has been huge for my speed and strength training.
PBR: What plans do you have in store for you in your freshman season at your new school?
I can't wait for my first practice at Augsburg. I'm looking forward to getting to work, competing and doing everything I can to help the team win. My goal is to bring a MIAC championship to Augsburg.
PBR: What advice would you give to others that are currently or will soon be going through the recruiting process?
Take your time, make sure the school is the right fit both academically and athletically before you make your decision. Make a decision that is best for you, not for somebody else. Also, be respectful of all coaches who reach out to you.
Scouting Report
8/20/17- 5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. #62 ranked player in MN 2018 class. 6.69 runner. Compact swing, gap to gap approach, consistent solid line drive and ground ball contact, 81 mph exit velocity. Solid fielder, shows ability in outfield, appropriate routes and angles, has accuracy with quick release on throws, 81 mph arm from outfield.
6/20/17- 5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. 6.87 runner. Easy hand load, slashy line drive swing plane, shows ability to use whole field, consistent solid contact, 83 mph exit velocity. Quick in outfield, covers ground, appropriate routes and angles, accurate arm to target, 80 mph arm from outfield.
3/20/17- 5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. #50 ranked player in MN 2018 class. 6.87 runner. Square stance with body load, barrel stays through zone well, consistent hard line drive and ground ball contact to middle of field, lead-off/2-hole type hitter with bat control, aggressive swinger, 78 mph exit velocity. Plays light on his feet, solid actions, avg./ok glove, gets rid of baseball quickly, accurate to target, 79 mph arm strength from outfield. On mound; controlled delivery, strike thrower, one piece arm action, lands across body falling off to third base side. Fastball was 76-77 mph with slight cutting action to plate. Slider showed 1/7 solid shape with avg./ok depth for strikes.
10/24/16- 5-foot-8, 145-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. #41 ranked player in MN 2018 class. 6.68 runner. Square stance, easy rhythm in load, transfers weight well through swing, uses whole field, consistently squares baseball, line drive and fly ball contact. 79 mph exit velocity. Good routes and angles, confident fielder, plays through baseball with momentum on throws, occasionally slings and throws uphill, solid accuracy and carry to target, 78 mph arm from outfield.
5/3/16- 5-foot-8, 145-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Small frame. 6.84 runner. Lead-off type hitter. Consistent solid contact, loose hands, stays on top of baseball, uses opposite field, middle/away approach. 79 mph exit velocity. Aggressive routes, clean arm, quick/athletic enough to play centerfield, accurate arm to target, 73 mph arm strength.
10/25/15- 5-foot-8, 145-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.00 runner. Open front leg in balance point. Leaks out early. Lands across body in delivery. Short arm action producing 72-74 mph fastball with slight run and above avg. command. 1/7 breaking ball has varying shape and break. Avg. command of changeup with flashes above avg. run and fade. Open stance. Strides to square with good balance. Middle/away approach with line drive swing plane. Consistent solid contact. Leadoff or 2-hole type hitter. 74 mph exit velocity off tee. Slingy arm action. Falls away from target. Elevated throws to plate with avg. accuracy. 72 mph arm strength.