Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 1 Alek Thomas
December 28, 2018
Alek Thomas, the wire-to-wire No. 1 prospect in the 2018 class, comes in as the No. 1 most viewed profile for the 2018 calendar year. Thomas, a Texas Christian commit in baseball and football, was long touted as one of the top multi-sport talents in the Midwest. The dynamic athlete ultimately chose to forgo college after being selected in the second round (60th overall) of the MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Thomas did not waste any time proving he was worthy of the 2nd round selection and went on to slash .341/.396/.496 in 134 plate appearances during his first stint at pro ball. We went into length on his impressive pro debut in our No. 3 story of 2018 "Alek Thomas Thrives In Pro Debut".
The success of Thomas is no surprise, as he was leading a loaded Mount Carmel lineup ever since his freshman year. As a freshman, Thomas led state runner-up Mount Carmel in home runs with eight, including one in the Class 4A state semifinals.
Our reports on Thomas go all the way back to a Preseason I.D. event that he attended before his freshman season and followed him closely ever since. Check out everything you need to know about Thomas' prestigious high school career below:
NO. 1: Alek Thomas
Alek Thomas
Class of 2018 / OF
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2018
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Primary Position: OF
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High School: Mount Carmel High SchoolState: IL
- Summer Team: Chicago White Sox ACE
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Height: 5-11Weight: 180lbs
- Bat/Throw: L/L
Statistics
Videos
(2/4/18)
Player News
- Top-10 Stories of 2022: No. 7 Former Illinois HS Products Debut In The MLB - Dec 22, 2022
- Top-10 Stories of 2021: Detmers, Thomas, Priester Make MLB Futures Game In 2021 - Dec 22, 2021
- The PBR Illinois All-Decade Team - Jan 20, 2020
- Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 1 Alek Thomas - Dec 28, 2018
- Top-10 Stories of 2018: No. 3 Mount Carmel's Thomas thrives in pro ball - Dec 27, 2018
- 2018 PBR First Team All-State - Jun 19, 2018
- Final Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Jun 18, 2018
- 2018 PBR Simul-Draft - Jun 7, 2018
- Draft Forecast: Cleveland Indians - Jun 1, 2018
- 2018 Experts' Draft - May 30, 2018
- 4A Burbank Sectional Semifinal: Mount Carmel Cruises Past St. Laurence - May 30, 2018
- Draft Forecast: St. Louis Cardinals - May 29, 2018
- Draft Forecast: Minnesota Twins - May 29, 2018
- Illinois Draft Preview - May 29, 2018
- Draft Forecast: Tampa Bay Rays - May 28, 2018
- Draft Forecast: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - May 28, 2018
- Draft Forecast: Texas Rangers - May 25, 2018
- 2018 MLB Draft Superlatives - May 23, 2018
- PBR Illinois Player Of The Week: OF Alek Thomas - May 23, 2018
- Week 6 Games - May 1, 2018
- High School Draft 100 Update - Apr 30, 2018
- No. 14 Mount Carmel over No. 15 Providence - Apr 23, 2018
- NHSI: Day 4 Notebook - Apr 1, 2018
- NHSI: Day 2 Notebook - Mar 30, 2018
- PBR Podcast: 2018 Draft Talk - Mar 26, 2018
- 2018 Overall Rankings Updated - Mar 21, 2018
- Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 6 Mount Carmel - Mar 13, 2018
- Super 60: Complete Illinois Analysis - Mar 7, 2018
- Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Mar 6, 2018
- 2018 Super 60 Highlights - Feb 5, 2018
- Field Set For 2018 NHSI - Jan 30, 2018
- Super 60 Spotlight: Alek Thomas - Jan 4, 2018
- Top 10 Player Profiles of 2017: No. 1 Alek Thomas - Dec 29, 2017
- Top 10 Stories Of 2017: No. 4 The Year of Alek Thomas - Dec 26, 2017
- PBR Podcast: Big 12 2018 Recruiting Classes - Dec 22, 2017
- 2018 Multi-Sport Athletes - Dec 6, 2017
- Showcase Circuit: Favorite Senior Hitters - Nov 9, 2017
- 2018 Illinois Rankings Updated - Nov 8, 2017
- PBR Podcast: 2018 PBR Draft 100 - Oct 9, 2017
- 2018 PBR Draft 100 - Oct 5, 2017
- The Hotlist: PBR Draft 100 Sneak Peek - Oct 4, 2017
- The Hotlist: Players Of The Summer - Sep 20, 2017
- PBR Podcast: Team USA Wins Gold - Sep 13, 2017
- USA Baseball Announces Final 18U Roster - Aug 24, 2017
- Midwest ProCase: Outfield Analysis - Aug 8, 2017
- Under Armour All-America Game Notebook - Jul 30, 2017
- Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Jul 28, 2017
- Updated 2018 Overall Rankings Released - Jul 20, 2017
- PBR Podcast: 2018 Overall Rankings Update - Jul 20, 2017
- PBR ProCase - Midwest: Quick Hits - Jul 13, 2017
- PBR ProCase - Midwest: Statistical Analysis - Jul 12, 2017
- USA Baseball Announces 18U Trials Roster - Jul 10, 2017
- PBR ProCase - Midwest: Preview - Jul 9, 2017
- The Hotlist: 2018 Draft Prospects To Watch - Jul 5, 2017
- 2017 TOS: Day 4 Notebook - Jul 2, 2017
- 2017 TOS: Day 3 Notebook - Jun 29, 2017
- 2017 TOS: Day 2 Notebook - Jun 28, 2017
- 2017 TOS: Day 1 Notebook - Jun 27, 2017
- 2017 PBR First-Team All-State - Jun 20, 2017
- Illinois Scout Blog - Jun 8, 2017
- Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Mar 31, 2017
- Marian Catholic Opens Season With Win Over No. 11 Mount Carmel - Mar 24, 2017
- Illinois Preseason All-State: Top Overall Prospects - Mar 13, 2017
- Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 7 Mount Carmel - Mar 13, 2017
- Preseason All-State: Outfield Analysis - Mar 8, 2017
- Preseason All-State: Stats Story - Feb 22, 2017
- Preseason All-State: Quick Hits - Feb 21, 2017
- Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where? - Feb 17, 2017
- The Buzz: Top Illinois Prospects Make Commitments - Feb 17, 2017
- Top 10 Player Profiles of 2016: No. 2 Alek Thomas - Dec 29, 2016
- The Hotlist: Top 2018s By Position - Nov 23, 2016
- Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Nov 22, 2016
- The Hotlist: Uncommitted 2018 Outfielders - Nov 2, 2016
- Inside The Overall Rankings: Illinois - Aug 31, 2016
- By The Numbers: Updated 2018 Overall Rankings - Aug 30, 2016
- Updated Overall 2018 Rankings Released - Aug 30, 2016
- Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Aug 24, 2016
- 2016 PBR First Team All-State - Jun 28, 2016
- 2016 TOS: Second Workout Day - Jun 25, 2016
- 2016 TOS: Day 1 PBR Area Notebook - Jun 23, 2016
- Updated 2018 Overall Rankings Released - Apr 8, 2016
- Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Apr 4, 2016
- Preseason Top 25 Team Countdown: No. 5 Mount Carmel - Mar 15, 2016
- Preseason I.D. - Romeoville Preview: Roster and Check-in Times - Feb 12, 2016
- Top 10 Player Profiles of 2015: No. 9 Alek Thomas - Dec 18, 2015
- 2018 Overall Rankings: Illinois Analysis - Dec 11, 2015
- Updated 2018 Overall Rankings Released - Dec 10, 2015
- Illinois 2018 Rankings Updated - Dec 1, 2015
- 2018 Stock Report: 5 Fast-Rising National Prospects - Sep 23, 2015
- 2018 Overall Rankings Update: Illinois Recap - Sep 15, 2015
- Updated Overall 2018 Rankings Released - Sep 12, 2015
- Area Code Underclass Games: Day 1 Notebook - Aug 10, 2015
- PBR Future Games: Position Player Recap - Aug 10, 2015
- PBR Future Games: Day 2 Recap - Jul 31, 2015
- PBR Future Games: Illinois Showcase Recap - Jul 30, 2015
- Initial Illinois 2018 Rankings Released - Jul 28, 2015
- Future Games Spotlight: OF Alek Thomas - Jul 27, 2015
- Providence Captures Second Consecutive Class 4A State Title - Jun 13, 2015
- Mount Carmel Downs Jacobs, Advances To 4A Title Game - Jun 12, 2015
- Mount Carmel "D" And Eighth Inning Explosion Send Caravan To Joliet - Jun 10, 2015
- Illinois Scout Blog - Jun 9, 2015
- Hupe's One-Hitter Leads Mount Carmel Past St. Rita - May 23, 2015
- No. 4 Mount Carmel Powers Past Loyola - May 7, 2015
- The Hotlist: Freshmen Contributing On Varsity - May 6, 2015
- No. 2 Mount Carmel Cruises Past No. 15 St. Laurence - May 2, 2015
- No. 2 Mount Carmel Sweeps No. 12 Brother Rice In CCL-Blue Action - Apr 29, 2015
- Romeoville Preseason ID: Top Overall Prospects - Mar 18, 2015
- Romeoville Preseason ID: Outfield Analysis - Mar 11, 2015
TOP-10 MOST-VIEWED PROFILES
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 1 Alek Thomas 12/28/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 2 Zaid Walker 12/27/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 4 Quinn Priester 12/26/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 3 Vytas Valincius 12/26/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 6 Jason Hodges 12/21/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 5 Matt McCormick 12/21/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 7 Jacob Maton 12/20/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 8 Francois Castillo 12/19/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 9 Trevor Davis 12/18/18
- IL Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 10 Ben Wiegman 12/17/18
Scouting Report
6/4/18 - Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2nd round, 63rd Overall.
4.23.18 - TCU commit, high draft follow. 5-foot-11, 175-pound left/left center fielder, athletically built, multi-sport athlete. Hits leadoff, centerfield. Loose easy approach in the box, confident hitter, above average pitch recognition and plate discipline. Will use the whole field, ball jumps off the bat, loose hands make easy hard contact. Plus-plus contact off the bat in his second AB, fastball away, hit a bullet line drive to SS for a hit. 4.19 run down the line on a 4-3. Savvy defender, easy gap coverage. Went 1-for-4 with a BB, 1B, 4-3, K FB up, F7. Scored a run and pickoff caught stealing.
2.4.18 (Super 60) - Texas Christian recruit, currently ranked No. 8 in the PBR High School Draft 100. 5-foot-11, 179-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, athletic, wiry-strong frame with room for continued physical development. Easy, natural athlete - recruited to go to TCU in baseball and football (also standout basketball player) - with highly advanced baseball instincts. Ran a 6.70 laser-timed 60 (previously ran a 6.43 at the PBR Midwest ProCase last summer). Offensively, hits from a relaxed, open setup, advanced rhythm in load, smooth leg lift back; loose, fluid athletic hands, generates easy bat speed. Overall professional approach. Registered 95 mph exit velocity off a tee with wood. Per FlightScope data during BP, had an average exit velocity of 92.61 with a max of 99.4, with an average launch angle of 15.94 degrees, and a max carry of 360.17. ... Speed and athleticism translate in the field, profiles as a centerfielder at the next level. High-level defender with advanced defensive actions. Moves with fluidity and ease. Was clocked at 88 mph from the outfield. Overall, potential top-round draft prospect.
8.24.17 - Named to Team USA 18U team.
7.11.17 - TCU recruit, currently ranked No. 7 overall in PBR coverage area, No. 1 in Illinois’ 2018 class. 5-foot-11, 179-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, athletic, wiry-strong frame with plenty of room for continued physical development. Top-of-the-scale athlete with highly advanced baseball instincts and I.Q. Ran an event-best 6.43 laser-timed 60 on a wet track. Speed and athleticism translate all over the field. Highest level defensive centerfielder, gets advanced reads off the bat, tracks balls down to both power alleys with ease. In game, Thomas ran down two balls deep in the right-center gap, covering considerable real estate, and made it look routine. Profiles as no-doubt centerfielder at the next level with below-average arm strength. Offensively, hits from a relaxed open setup, advanced rhythm in load, pronounced leg-kick back, loose, fluid athletic hands, generates easy bat speed. Registered 95-mph exit velocity off tee. Produces big pullside power when he wanted in BP, tanking several home runs. Also shows handsy opposite-field approach with intent on getting out the box quickly. Overall, Thomas was the top prospect at the PBR Midwest ProCase, and further cemented his status as a high-round draft prospect.
7.10.17 - Named to Team USA 18U trials roster.
7.1.17 - Collected another double on a hard fly ball into the left field corner. It came against a 92 mph fastball away. He also squared up a lineout to center that was 99 off the bat.
6.29.17 - Has enjoyed a superb three-day stretch here, and is quietly distancing himself from several other high-profile outfield prospects. His ability to barrel up velocity with ease has been documented in previous notebooks. The Texas Christian recruit did so again Thursday. Although the left-handed hitter only had one single to show for it, Thomas laced a ball at the left fielder, squared one to center field, and grounded out. A top-level athlete, Thomas gets out the box extremely quick and also stole a base in the game. He’s also a highly advanced defensive center fielder, showing natural actions and getting early reads while tracking down balls in the gaps with relative ease. His baseball instincts in all facets have come to the fore here over the course of three days.
6.28.17 - Has shown that he is unfazed by velocity. He is 3-for-9 with a double in two games and has routinely squared balls up, including fastballs in the 92-95 mph range. He has quick, loose hands that generate bat speed and he doesn’t hesitate to jump on fastballs early in the count. Thomas would’ve had another hit, but in his last at-bat Wednesday he was robbed by SS Brice Turang (Santiago HS, CA), who was playing second base and made a spectacular diving play to his glove side in the outfield grass and threw to first from his backside.
6.27.17 - Started the day with a strong BP, showing a loose, easy swing from the left side. The ball jumped off his bat and he drove a couple balls to left-center field. In the game, the Texas Christian recruit had two hard hits in his first two at-bats. First, he took a 95 mph fastball away and shot it down the left-field line for a double. Then he jumped on a hanging slider for a single up the middle that was 101 off the bat. He finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and got down the line in 4.26 and 4.27 seconds on a couple groundouts.
3.24.17 - TCU commit. No. 1 ranked 2018 in Illinois, No. 14 in the PBR Overall Ranks. 5-foot-10, 174-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with an athletic frame and wiry strength. Open setup with fluid rhythm. Looks to pull, but will go with pitches when behind in the count. Went 2-5 in game with a triple. Plus runner, 4.04 down the line on a ground ball. Fluid defensive actions in centerfield, takes good routes.
2.19.17 - Texas Christian commit. 5-foot-10, 174-pound, athletically built, left-handed hitting outfielder. High-upside athlete who continues to impress with his athleticism and advanced tools. Ran a personal best 6.63 laser-timed 60 at the event. Also, registered a exit velocity of 93 mph from a tee. Offensively, fluid rhythm, creates easy bat speed with loose, whippy hands through the zone. Legitimate pull-side power potential, ball jumps off the bat. Starts open and balanced, smooth load, leg-kick timing trigger and maintains good balance through contact. Defensively, moves fluidly, with ease and body control in the outfield. Plays through the baseball, athletic, natural outfield actions and soft hands. Arm works long and out of a high ¾ slot; accurate throws clocked at 86 mph.
2.10.17 - Verbally committed to TCU.
Future Games 2015 - Ultra athletic 5-foot-10, 157-pound left-handed hitting outfielder impressed in all facets of the game. Began his day running a 6.74 60. The left-handed hitter then flashed his offensive prowess during batting practice at the Future Games. Hits from an open, athletic set up, smooth deep load. Plus rhythm throughout his swing. Extremely loose, quick hands and easy bat speed. Showed off his pull-side pop by putting his last swing of the day easily over the right-field fence. Hit an opposite field double over the left fielders head in game. Also, registered an exit velocity of 93 mph. Defensively, smooth, easy athletic actions in the outfield and a long, loose-arm action. Routinely tracked down balls in game and was clocked at 82 mph from the outfield. Makes everything he does look easy.
6/6/15 - 5-foot-9, 170-pound L/L outfielder. Premium athlete, lean loose frame that projects. Confident game, has a bounce in his step, moxy. Excellent hands at the plate, path occasionally gets long, good barrel control. 4.15 runner down the line on groundout to the pitcher. Plus potential defender, long strider, covers ground well with good reads, ability to make game changing plays defensively.
5.22.15 - Ran 4.19 on a single into the six hole in the sixth. Made a great catch for the second out of seventh running down the left field line. Gets good jumps, plus runner. Flew out to left field and reached on a catcher’s interference. Plus rhythm and hands at the plate, hits from an open stance, plus bat speed for a freshman, advanced beyond years. Thomas is the top 2018 prospect in the state of Illinois, and currently has four home runs on varsity this spring.
5.6.15 - At 5-foot-9 165-pound, there’s plenty of room for Thomas to physically mature. The freshman is a fluid athlete who makes everything look relatively simply. Approach to the game seems to come natural. Natural outfield actions and range. Takes efficient routes and high points the ball very well. The left handed hitting outfielder has a balanced set up at the dish. Hands are loose and in rhythm near the head. Creates a consistent bat angle which allows for a flat, strong path through the hitting zone. Top hand elbow slot is naturally advanced, allowing the bat to stay in the zone longer, giving him plus plate coverage. This was on display on a 1-1, two out change up that he flipped over the third baseman’s head to drive in a run. 7.08 runner this winter, speed evident in outfield actions. High end follow for 2018, oozes talent.
4.27.15 - 5-foot-10, 157-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder with a thin athletic frame. High level athlete, 4.14 runner down the line, with smooth actions in the outfield. At the plate hits from a narrow open stance with a high back elbow and leg lift trigger. Rhythmic swing with fast hands, showed barrel control against a good arm (88-89 mph). Presently a free swinger who will continue to improve with development. One of the top freshman in the state.
2.16.15 - 5-foot-10, 157-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder. Projectable frame. In the field has a long, loose arm action from an over the top arm slot. Soft hands, fluid footwork, with a clean exchange. Threw 80 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a tall, narrow, open stance, with a drop load, and leg kick stride. Pull hitter with a fast bat. Showed present strength with 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.08. High ceiling, toolsy prospect, who will continue to improve with maturity.