Alek Thomas has found his groove in Triple-A

Highly touted prospects get promoted quite often in the minors. Oftentimes, they struggle and have to make adjustments when they arrive at a new level. Game speed is different, pitchers are better and that can be a major obstacle for young hitters. That hasn’t been the case for Alek Thomas in his first 34 games of Triple-A action.

The 21-year-old has compiled 166 plate appearances since his promotion and looks as good as advertised. He is slashing .369/.434/.658 so far, adding up to a 1.091 OPS. Thomas smashed his first home run on August 27 against Sacramento and hasn’t gone cold since.

He has hit eight home runs in his short time with Reno, including a stretch of homering in four straight games from September 14 to September 18 - the first time in his career he’s hit long balls in consecutive games. The left-hander has already hit for a career-high in single-season home runs with 18 between Amarillo and Reno. With Reno, he’s racked up 11 doubles and four triples to help him keep his slugging percentage at a career-high thus far in his young career.

On September 20 against Salt Lake, Thomas legged out a pair of triples in a 4-for-6 night that included a double and a run scored. The next night, Thomas went 4-for-5 with another triple and four runs scored.

Not only is he doing it with his bat, but he’s also showcasing his speed on the basepaths. He has already stolen five bases. Thomas swiped his first bag in his second Triple-A game and swiped two in one game on September 2nd in a crucial game against Tacoma that the Aces won.

As the everyday centerfielder for the Aces, he has yet to make an error, while compiling four assists and even turning a double play. His speed on the basepaths has translated to the outfield as well, with his range and glove making a big difference for the Aces in center.

Staying red hot after a promotion isn’t easy, yet Alek Thomas is making it look that way.