The Mariners will select the contract of outfielder Dillon Thomas from Triple-A Tacoma prior to today’s game, reports Robert Murray of FanSided (via Twitter). It’ll be the 28-year-old’s first call to the big leagues.
Thomas, a fourth-round pick by the 2011 Rockies, spent six years in Colorado’s system and another pair of seasons in the Cubs organization before joining the Mariners on a minor league pact over the winter. He’s made a good impression in his first look with Tacoma, raking at a .338/.459/.625 pace with six homers, five doubles, four steals (in five tries) and a hearty 12.2 percent walk rate through his first 98 plate appearances.
Outside of three games at first base with the Rockies’ Double-A club back in 2016, Thomas has worked exclusively as an outfielder in his minor league career. He’ll join Jake Fraley and Taylor Trammell as left-handed outfield options alongside right-handed-hitting veteran Mitch Haniger. The Mariners, of course, are without Kyle Lewis for the foreseeable future owing to a knee injury and just yesterday optioned top prospect Jarred Kelenic back to Tacoma after several weeks of struggles against big league pitching.
Trammell laid waste to Triple-A pitching in his brief demotion to Tacoma, and given his own widely agreed-upon status as one of the game’s top outfield prospects, he ought to be in line for regular reps in center again. Haniger is a fixture in right field, save for the occasional day at designated hitter. That leaves Fraley, Thomas and perhaps utilityman Donovan Walton as the Mariners’ top options for work in left field at the moment.
Linked to wrong Dillon Thomas, unless he’s 21.
Thanks. We use a script to automatically generate the B-Ref links, but it grabbed the wrong one there obviously. It’s updated now. Appreciate you pointing it out!
No problem. I figured a bad link on a player few know probably is worth a mention.
I wonder if he writes poetry….
Rhyme of the Nascent Mariner
Rage, rage against the dying of the light hitting corner outfielder
Robert Zimmerman appreciates that prose
So you’re saying Dillon is misspelled?
Ask The Marshall..
Beat me to it +1
Do no go gentle into that good night game
Sorry
Do not go gentle into that good night game
He really should be on Detroit.
Thought that was Brenden Dillon from the capitals at first
he’s earned it. guy’s been crushing the ball lately.
Good for him, spent 7 years on those crappy buses eating that crappy food in the minors and he finally gets the call. Love to see it.
Why not call up Raleigh ?
Dipoto explained today that they don’t want to rush him. Since catcher is one of the most demanding positions they wanna be safe and see him play more AAA games.
Interestingly enough, he started at 1b tonight. Maybe they wanna get him some versatility to get him to the majors quicker and play more games per year.
Cubs, Brewers.
same
He was in Brewers org not Cubs.
I followed Thomas for a while in the minors. I’m so glad he is finally getting his chance in the majors. Stories like this are a big part of why I love baseball. You don’t see too many stories like this in football or basketball, but baseball always has several stories of extreme perseverance each year.
none in football…save Tim Tebow!
I’m happy about promoting Thomas
They Called up a serial killer
That ghost is just a kid in a sheet
In a few days Dylan Moore will be promoted to Seattle. His athleticism and positional flexibility will be a huge boost to the lineup. Moore will surely play 2B but he’s a capable defender at SS and OF. It will be interesting to see how Shed Long and Dylan Moore will be used.
If Dylan can hit a bit Moore, Shed might not last Long in Seattle.
10/10
In accepting this award, I’d like to thank Jerry DiPoto for making it possible.
He looks like a combination of James Shields and Gio González
Another player enters the revolving Mariners clubhouse door. Will this ever end?