Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (oblique) was reinstated from the seven-day minor-league injured list at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday. In his return to the field with the Aces on Tuesday, Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. The 24-year-old has been out of action for the past month with a strained right oblique but is working his way back and could be able to rejoin the big-league roster before the end of the regular season at the end of September. If Thomas does rejoin the D-backs and they make the postseason, he'll likely be a bench player and potential late-game replacement for his defense in center field. Thomas has played in a career-low 37 games in Arizona in 2024 in his third year in the majors and has hit just .191 (18-for-94) with three homers, 17 RBI and four steals. Jake McCarthy has essentially taken over for Thomas at the big-league level.

The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned outfielder Alek Thomas to Triple-A Reno following Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies and recalled rookie infielder Blaze Alexander from Reno in a corresponding move on Wednesday. Thomas has missed a big chunk of this season due to injury and wasn't swinging the bat well enough upon his return to warrant a roster spot at the big-league level, despite his excellent glove work. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter has batted just .191 (18-for-94) this year with three home runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases in 37 games played in his third year in Arizona. Thomas' demotion is good news for Jake McCarthy, who has become a lineup regular for the Snakes in a breakout year. Alexander, meanwhile could see some starts at second base, including on Wednesday, with Ketel Marte nursing a low-grade ankle sprain.

With a left-hander on the mound for Monday's contest against the hosting Cleveland Guardians, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielders Joc Pederson and Alek Thomas will both get the day off. Ketel Marte will serve as the designated hitter and will bat leadoff, while Jake McCarthy will start in center field and will hit sixth versus Guardians lefty Logan Allen. Kevin Newman draws into the lineup at the keystone and will hit eighth for the Snakes. Pederson only has seen 25 plate appearances against lefties in 2024, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised that he's not starting on Monday. Against righties, though, he's been solid, hitting .289 (69-for-239) with 16 of his 17 home runs on the year. Thomas has only been afforded 81 at-bats this year due to injuries and is hitting a lowly .210 (17-for-81) with three homers, 17 RBI and three steals. He's not an option for fantasy managers in mixed leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates. The 24-year-old singled, walked, and drove in two runs during Friday's 9-8 win but will give way to Jake McCarthy for Saturday's contest. It has been another difficult season at the plate for Thomas as he has not only dealt with a hamstring injury but has also struggled at the plate. He is hitting just .208 with three homers, three stolen bases, and a .672 OPS across 83 trips to the plate. However, his .347 xwOBA is well beyond his .288 wOBA at the moment. While he hasn't provided much to fantasy managers this season, there is likely some positive regression to be had down the stretch.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas hit a ninth-inning grand slam Friday, part of a six-run comeback for Arizona that gave them a brief 8-7 lead in the game, only to lose 10-8 after closer Paul Sewald gave up a pair of home runs in the bottom of the inning. The slam was Thomas' only hit in the contest and his second home run of the season. The 24-year-old has missed most of the season with an injured hamstring and was recently activated off the IL. He's 2-for-12 since activation but does offer some intriguing power-speed upside if he can stay healthy. Last season he hit nine home runs and stole nine bags in 374 at-bats, but also hit four more postseason home runs in just 54 at-bats and stole an additional two bases.

The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned rookie infielder Blaze Alexander to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Thomas will also be reinserted right back into the team's starting lineup on Tuesday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, as he's playing center field and batting eighth against Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will make his long-awaited return after straining his left hamstring all the way back on the fourth game of the season in early April. Expect the D-backs to ease Thomas back into the fold in center field against right-handed pitching. Thomas hasn't moved the needle much offensively in his first two years in the big leagues, so he's mostly an asset in NL-only leagues for his speed.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) was scheduled to play for Triple-A Reno on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, according to assistant general manager Mike Fitzgerald. After that, the hope is that Thomas can return to the Diamondbacks, possibly for the series opener in Los Angeles against the division-rival Dodgers on Tuesday. In two games with the Aces already, Thomas has gone 1-for-7 and he's 8-for-20 overall on his minor-league rehab assignment, including a short stint in the Arizona Complex League. The 24-year-old could be eased back into the fold initially for the D-backs, but when fully healthy, he figures to play regularly in center field against right-handed pitching. So far, Thomas has been more useful to the Snakes for his glove in his three years in the big leagues, as he's currently slashing just .230/.273/.362 with 18 homers and 13 steals in 242 games.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) played seven innings in center field and had three at-bats on Saturday in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and said his hamstring felt good. After an off day on Sunday, Thomas will take live batting practice against right-hander Zac Gallen (hamstring) on Monday and then head to Triple-A Reno for a minor-league rehab assignment. The D-backs are hoping Thomas will join the big-league roster for the June 28-30 series against the visiting Oakland Athletics. The 24-year-old center fielder had been scheduled to come off the injured list on May 7, but manager Torey Lovullo said Thomas felt something in his left hamstring after playing in a rehab game on May 5. He then received a platelet-rich plasma injection to alleviate swelling on May 13. When healthy, Thomas is a defense-first player for the Snakes.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) will play in another Arizona Complex League game on Friday after the soreness in his injured hamstring subsided. Thomas reported "general soreness" in his hamstring earlier this week, which caused the Diamondbacks to temporarily pause his rehab assignment after he went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI in his first three games in the Arizona Complex League. The 24-year-old has recovered quickly from his soreness and will resume playing in minor-league games this weekend. If all goes well this weekend, he could move his rehab assignment to a higher affiliate next week. Since he's been out since April 1, the D-backs want to see him play in more games before activating him from the injured list. When Thomas is back, he should see regular playing time in center field against righties, but so far he's mostly been a glove guy in the big leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) felt more discomfort in his left hamstring and is headed back to Phoenix to be re-evaluated, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Thomas was on a minor-league rehab assignment and was expected to rejoin the big-league club on Tuesday in Cincinnati, but that won't be the case now. The 24-year-old first injured his hamstring on March 31 and had only played in four rehab games with Triple-A Reno. There's a chance he'll now have to restart a rehab assignment. As long as Thomas continues to sit out, Corbin Carroll should handle center field in Arizona, with Jake McCarthy and Randal Grichuk seeing more time in the outfield as well. Thomas is a defense-first player, so he can remain on waiver wires in mixed fantasy leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) is expected to come off the injured list and be back with the team at the start of the team's road trip to Cincinnati against the Reds that starts on Tuesday. Thomas is serving as the designated hitter on a minor-league rehab assignment for Triple-A Reno on Friday, so as long as he doesn't have a setback with his strained left hamstring over the weekend, he'll be back with the Snakes next week. The 24-year-old is more valuable to Arizona on defense in center field than he's been with his bat, as he's hit just .230/.273/.362 with 18 home runs, 82 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 242 games at the big-league level since debuting in 2022. When Thomas returns, it will mean less playing time for the likes of Pavin Smith and Jake McCarthy.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) started baserunning activities on April 24, with manager Torey Lovullo saying that Thomas is doing everything except running full speed. The skipper doesn't have a target date for Thomas' return, but he said Thomas is progressing well. The 24-year-old strained his left hamstring when he grounded into a double play on March 31 against the Colorado Rockies and underwent an MRI exam on April 1 that showed a strain that was greater than a Grade 1 strain. It sounds like he's getting close to being able to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Until Thomas is able to return, Corbin Carroll will continue to operate as the team's center fielder, giving Jake McCarthy and Randal Grichuk more reps in the outfield. Thomas has still yet to show much offensively for fantasy managers, but he's a stud on defense when healthy.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) recently told reporters that he is progressing well from his injury. The 23-year-old was placed on the injured list roughly two weeks ago due to a hamstring injury. Thomas has been taking at-bats in extended spring training and it appears to be going well. The D-Backs haven't given a timetable on Thomas lately, so fantasy managers will have to be patient. In the meantime, Jake McCarthy will continue seeing increased time in the outfield.

The Arizona Diamondbacks placed outfielder Alek Thomas (left) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a strained left hamstring and recalled outfielder Jorge Barrosa up from the minor leagues in a corresponding move. Thomas injured his hamstring on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies and will now be forced to miss at least the next 10 days. Jake McCarthy is starting in right field and batting eight in the lineup on Monday against the New York Yankees and right-hander Luis Gil, and he should benefit from most of the extra playing time in Arizona's outfield for however long Thomas is sidelined. Corbin Carroll has shifted over to replace Thomas in center field. Thomas went 3-for-14 (.214) with a homer and four RBI in the first four games of the year before landing on the IL.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (hamstring) was forced to leave early during Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Thomas suffered a left hamstring injury while running out a double in the first inning. He remained in the game for a few innings before exiting due to left hamstring tightness. It's uncertain how long he's going to be sidelined. The D-Backs will likely have Thomas undergo further testing before deciding on what to do. If Thomas misses time, Jake McCarthy and Joc Pederson could see more playing time in the outfield.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas came to spring training this year with a retooled swing. In his two years in the big leagues, Thomas has been a below-average hitter, and his biggest problem has been loading his weight awkwardly over the outside of his back foot. From a closed position, he had to pull his upper body awkwardly towards first base to reach inside pitches. Thomas and his new hitting coach worked this offseason to create separation in his load and also to give him more balance to stay under control at the plate. In his two major-league seasons, Thomas hasn't hit a ball harder than 111.3 mph, but in an at-bat before spring training against a minor-league pitcher, he hit one 116 mph. The 23-year-old former top prospect is already a strong defender, but cleaning up his hitting mechanics could take him to the next level in 2024 as an all-around player in Arizona.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (wrist) is dealing with wrist soreness that kept him out of the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday. He has been tracking pitches during live batting practice sessions without swinging in the meantime, and manager Torey Lovullo said the concern is minimal and that Thomas could have played on Monday, if needed. It sounds as though the 23-year-old center fielder should be back in spring training action by the end of the week, if not sooner, and he'll be good to go for Opening Day in late March. Thomas struggled at the plate in 125 games for the D-backs last year, slashing .230/.273/.374 with nine home runs, 39 RBI and nine steals and was demoted to the minors in the first half. Unless he improves against left-handers, he probably isn't going to be much of an asset in shallow mixed leagues in 2024.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas is in the lineup for Game 1 of the World Series, hitting seventh for the away team. Thomas will likely sit against a left-handed starter, such as Jordan Montgomery or Andrew Heaney, but he will likely start when a righty is on the mound. Thomas is an excellent defensive center fielder, credited with six outs above average this season, but has had his struggles at the plate. The 23-year-old is hitting .212 during the postseason with four home runs.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit, two-run home run in a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the NLCS on Friday. Thomas started this game on the bench as the Phillies went with southpaw Cristopher Sanchez as their starter. The D-Backs were facing a 5-3 deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning before Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled off Craig Kimbrel to set the stage for Alek Thomas, who replaced Emmanuel Rivera as a pinch-hitter. Thomas then cranked a two-run shot to right-center field and tied the game. Ketel Marte would single and come around to score via a Gabriel Moreno single later in the frame. The series is now tied at two games apiece and heads back to Philadelphia on Saturday. Thomas, who has mostly struggled this postseason, has still delivered some big hits. He's slashing just .192/.241/.538 across 26 at-bats but he does have three home runs and five RBI to go along with that poor batting line.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas will remain out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's Game 4 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The D-Backs will stick with their Game 3 lineup here. That means, Thomas will sit out his second straight game against a left-handed starting pitcher. Possibly, Thomas comes off the bench as a pinch-hitter later in the contest. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Corbin Carroll and Tommy Pham will patrol the outfield in Game 4.