As far back as Alek Thomas can remember, April was a time for playing baseball.
Not just practice, but games.
The competition of game day is what drives Thomas, a 2018 Mount Carmel graduate.
Standing in the batter’s box.
Sizing up pitchers.
Assessing how the defense is aligned to get him out.
It’s like a chess match.
At Mount Carmel, the left-handed-hitting Thomas would wait for a pitch that would allow him to exploit holes in the defense.
He would lash baseballs into gaps, allowing him to showcase his blazing speed, or he would crush balls over the fence — something he did a school-record 40 times during a four-year varsity career.
All the while he would flash a sinister grin.
He was having fun.
This April, however, there have been neither games nor practices.
No fun that baseball provides.
“It’s been real different without baseball,” Thomas said. “It sucks for everyone.”
The coronavirus pandemic has done what most pitchers have found impossible: put the brakes on Thomas’ fast-rising professional career in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound outfielder has played at three levels in two minor league seasons since he was picked in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft.
Entering the 2020 season, MLB.com ranked Thomas the 49th-best prospect, Baseball Prospectus had him 54th and Baseball America slotted him at 87th.
“I was in spring training (in Arizona) back in March when they told us we could go home or stay at the facility,” Thomas said. “I decided to come back home.”
Home is Chicago. His parents and sister are still in Arizona, which leaves Thomas in charge of the house and the family’s two dogs.
“It gives me something else to do,” Thomas said. “It helps keep my mind off of everything.”
When he’s not caring for the dogs, Thomas spends some time in the kitchen.
“I’m good around the stove or grill,” he said. “I’ll cook some chicken or steak, some eggs and bacon or sausage links. My dad taught me that.”
Thomas admitted to a few culinary indulgences.
“I’ll throw in a frozen pizza or have ramen noodles,” he said. “Don’t let my father know that.”
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His father, Allen, is the director of strength and conditioning for the White Sox.
Eating healthy is a pretty big priority.
Thomas is doing his best to remain in baseball shape. He’s hitting Wiffle balls and playing catch while observing social distancing protocols.
He’s running on the neighborhood sidewalks.
He’s also jacking up some jump shots when he feels the need to put down the bat and glove.
He’ll hop inside his Range Rover, the one indulgence he provided himself with his signing bonus, and take a ride.
“I like doing something, even if it’s not baseball,” Thomas said. “I’m the type of person who likes to stay busy.”
Which is why he played football, basketball and baseball at Mount Carmel for three years. He decided to give up basketball during his senior year.
If and when the minor league season starts up, Thomas expects to be assigned to Visalia, one of the Diamondbacks’ Class A affiliates.
It’s where he ended last season after getting promoted from Kane County, where he hit .312 with 21 doubles, seven triples, eight homers, 63 runs and 48 RBIs in 353 at-bats.
Thomas suffered through some growing pains at Visalia, finishing with a .255 average, two doubles, two homers and seven RBIs in 94 at-bats.
However, Thomas doesn’t expect to experience those same struggles on a return trip.
Neither do I.
“I expanded my zone and got a little too aggressive,” he said. “In the playoffs, I stopped being so aggressive, and I’d end up getting a pitch I liked. The results were better.”
Physically, Thomas is as gifted as any high school player as I’ve covered in my 30 years.
What separates him from the pack is his willingness to make the necessary adjustments to succeed.
And get to the big leagues.
“I’d like to get there as soon as possible,” Thomas said. “The end of 2021 or 2022 is my goal. I try not to think about that. The mentality you have is a big thing, and it can affect the way you play. It’s the same mentality going through what we’re all going through right now. You have to stay positive.”