Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas is nearing a return to action. Thomas started playing with the Diamondbacks’ complex league affiliate on Thursday and is 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two walks in two games. On Saturday, he played five innings in center field.
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“I had a chance to speak to him on the phone and he had a great day,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Alex Weiner. “Felt good, got on base, there was a back-pick on him, made some plays on defense, and everything checked out okay.”
Torey Lovullo says Alek Thomas will join Triple-A Reno this upcoming week, the last stop on his rehab. pic.twitter.com/FqYCO3u2LW
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) June 15, 2024
Thomas will do another rehab game at the complex on Monday before starting another rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno, who will travel to play Salt Lake. If all goes well, he could be back with the Diamondbacks at the start of their next homestand when they host the Minnesota Twins June 25-27.
Thomas, 24, has been out of action since March 31 with a left hamstring strain. He suffered the injury attempting to leg out a double play ball in the first inning and was subsequently pulled from the game by the third. In four games this season, he’s 3-for-14 at the plate with a double, home run, and four RBI.
It’s been a slow rehab process for Thomas, who was close to coming back last month but suffered a setback with his hamstring. After playing a rehab stint with Reno on May 3-5, he complained of soreness and was sent back to Phoenix for further evaluation. He then received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection on May 13 to help heal the injured hamstring.
When Thomas is ready to come off the injured list, the Diamondbacks will have to make a difficult decision on who to send down. The team covets his elite glove in center field, twice being a finalist for a Gold Glove Award. Corbin Carroll and Jake McCarthy have gotten the bulk of the reps in center field in Thomas’ absence.
