Blue Jays outfield prospect, Jake Thomas, is getting on-base at a record-setting pace for the Lansing Lugnuts
The 2017 edition of the Lansing Lugnuts has the firepower to score runs in bunches but they have also shown a tendency to strikeout at an alarming rate.
To offset the Lugnuts strikeout-prone batters, Lansing has top prospects Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. However, it isn’t Guerrero or Bichette that leads the Lansing Lugnuts in walks or on-base percentage. That honor goes to 23-yr-old outfielder Jake Thomas.
Drafted in the 27th round of the 2015 Draft, Thomas owns an OBP more than 100 points higher than Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s .449. Thomas leads the Midwest League OBP by more than 70 points. Jake Thomas’ .545 OBP not only leads the Lugnuts and the Midwest League but all of baseball.
Ramon Urias of the Triple-A Diablos Rojas del Mexico in the Mexican League is Thomas’ closest competition. Urias holds an OBP of .487.
The Lugnuts LF has walked 22 times in just 16 games while striking out just 10 times. Thomas is also providing the Lugnuts with a force at the bottom of the lineup. Being used mainly out the 8th spot in the lineup Jake has hit .317 with two doubles, a triple and 8 runs batted in.
Jake Thomas Career Stats
| Year | Age | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 21 | GULF | 47 | 156 | 25 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 28 | 34 | .263 | .393 | .365 | .758 |
| 2016 | 22 | MIDW | 57 | 213 | 24 | 52 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 24 | 49 | .244 | .325 | .315 | .640 | |
| 2017 | 23 | MIDW | 16 | 41 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 10 | .317 | .545 | .415 | .960 |
The on-base machine has failed to reach base just once this season, drawing a walking in every game but three. He has 7 multi-walk games, walking three times twice.
What’s amazing about what Jake Thomas is doing is that he seems to be getting stronger. After starting the season with seven walks through his first eight games, Thomas has walked 15 times over his next eight games.
I’m pretty sure there will be no shirts with “Chicks Love the Walk” or “Chicks Love a High OBP” circulating around Cooley Law School Stadium anytime soon; however, if Jake Thomas continues to get on-base at his current clip he will break some records.
****Update- Jake Thomas walked twice more at time of publishing
Lansing Quick Hits
- Lugnuts OF Edward Olivares stays hot with 9 hits in 5 games since hitting for the cycle on April 24th.
- Lugnuts JB Woodman and Christian Williams continue to swing and miss at an alarming rate with 37 and 35 strikeouts. They currently sit 1st and 3rd for the most strikeouts in the Midwest League.
Lansing Quick Pitch
- Justin Maese leads the Blue Jays farm system with 57 groundballs, followed by New Hampshire’s Conner Greene’s 53.
- The Lugnuts own the highest ERA and WHIP in the Midwest League and have given up the most hits.
*Featured Image Credit: Wade Black (flickr)
