Colby Thomas Bio
Colby Grant Thomas (born January 26, 2001) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025 and has rapidly progressed through the Athletics farm system. Thomas bats and throws from the left side and is widely viewed as one of the organization’s promising young position players.
Early Life and Background
Colby Grant Thomas was born on January 26, 2001, in the United States. He grew up in the South and attended Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia, where he developed as a multi-tool outfielder. As a senior in 2019, he hit .416 with 13 home runs, 45 runs batted in, and 17 stolen bases, drawing the attention of professional scouts.
Thomas was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 37th round of the 2019 MLB draft, but he opted not to sign. He chose instead to honor his college commitment and continue his development on the amateur circuit. That decision set the stage for a productive three-year run at Mercer University.
Path to Baseball
Thomas enrolled at Mercer University to play college baseball and quickly established himself as a middle-of-the-order bat. As a freshman in 2020, he appeared in 16 games and batted .333 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in before the season was cancelled.
He hit .247 with ten home runs and 37 runs batted in over 53 games as a sophomore in 2021 and then played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod League for the Bourne Braves, where he batted .228 with four home runs over 29 games. As a junior in 2022, he hit .325 with 17 home runs and 45 runs batted in over 42 games before a shoulder injury ended his season. Following the year, he announced his intent to transfer to the University of Florida before being selected in the 2022 MLB draft.
Colby Thomas Career
Early Career (2023)
The Oakland Athletics selected Thomas in the third round, 95th overall, of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with the organization. He made his professional debut in 2023 with the Single-A Stockton Ports and was promoted to the High-A Lansing Lugnuts in early July of that year.
Over 126 appearances split between Stockton and Lansing, Thomas slashed .286/.351/.493 with 18 home runs, 82 runs batted in, 39 doubles, and 25 stolen bases. The strong full-season line established him as one of the Athletics’ more advanced offensive prospects heading into the next year.
Minor League Breakthrough (2024)
Thomas was assigned to the Double-A Midland RockHounds to open the 2024 season and earned a mid-June promotion to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. In 132 games between the two affiliates, he batted .277 with 31 home runs, 92 runs batted in, and 15 stolen bases, posting the most productive offensive season of his minor league career to that point.
During the 2024 offseason, Thomas represented Team USA in the WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo, adding international experience to his resume. His combination of power, on-base skills, and athleticism cemented his status as a 40-man roster candidate heading into 2025.
Oakland Athletics Era (2025–Present)
Thomas was assigned to Las Vegas to open the 2025 season and hit a home run in the Aviators’ season opener. In 76 appearances for Las Vegas, he slashed .297/.365/.542 with 17 home runs, 70 runs batted in, and seven stolen bases, forcing the Athletics’ hand at the major league level.
On June 30, 2025, Thomas was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that night as a pinch-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field and recorded his first MLB hit the next day, a double off Shane Baz. He hit his first MLB home run on August 9, a two-run shot off Mitchell Parker of the Washington Nationals. In 49 games for the Athletics, Thomas hit .225 with six home runs and 19 runs batted in. He was optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the 2026 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thomas fits the profile of a modern corner outfielder who can hold his own in center field. He generates power to all fields, draws walks, and uses his legs to add extra-base hits and stolen bases. Defensively, he reads the ball well off the bat and has the arm strength to profile in right field at the major league level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thomas’s first MLB hit, a double off Shane Baz on July 1, 2025, and his first MLB home run off Mitchell Parker on August 9, 2025, both stand as signature moments from his rookie season. Representing the United States in the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo also marked a notable international milestone early in his career.
Colby Thomas Career Wins
As an outfielder, Thomas does not accumulate traditional wins, but his offensive production has been a consistent storyline across every level. He has shown steady growth in home runs, runs batted in, and on-base percentage from Single-A through Triple-A, and he reached the major leagues within three full professional seasons.
Minor League Highlights
Thomas’s most productive minor league season came in 2024, when he batted .277 with 31 home runs, 92 runs batted in, and 15 stolen bases across Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas. In 2023, he posted an .840 OPS with 18 home runs between Stockton and Lansing. His 2025 stint at Las Vegas, where he slashed .297/.365/.542 with 17 home runs in 76 games, served as the springboard to his MLB debut.
Other Wins and Performances
Thomas earned a spot on Team USA for the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo, representing the United States on the international stage. He also produced a strong Cape Cod League summer with the Bourne Braves in 2021.
| Level | Year | Average | Home Runs | RBI | Stolen Bases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-A / High-A (Stockton, Lansing) | 2023 | .286 | 18 | 82 | 25 |
| Double-A / Triple-A (Midland, Las Vegas) | 2024 | .277 | 31 | 92 | 15 |
| Triple-A (Las Vegas) | 2025 | .297 | 17 | 70 | 7 |
| MLB (Oakland Athletics) | 2025 | .225 | 6 | 19 | — |
Colby Thomas Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public details about Colby Grant Thomas’s immediate family are limited. He is a United States citizen who grew up in Georgia and has kept much of his personal life private. His commitment to his family and to his craft has been a steady presence as he has climbed through professional baseball.
Outside of baseball, Thomas maintains an active presence on social media and shares updates with fans of his development. He continues to be regarded as a focused, family-oriented young player as he works to establish himself at the major league level.
2025 Season Performance
Thomas opened the 2025 season at Triple-A Las Vegas and quickly showed he was ready for the next step, hitting a home run in the Aviators’ season opener. Over 76 games in the Pacific Coast League, he slashed .297/.365/.542 with 17 home runs and 70 runs batted in, ranking among the Athletics’ most productive hitters at the top of the minors.
On June 30, 2025, Oakland selected his contract and inserted him into the major league lineup as a pinch-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays. He collected his first MLB hit the next day, a double off Shane Baz, and slugged his first MLB home run on August 9 off Mitchell Parker of the Washington Nationals. In 49 games for the Athletics, he finished the year batting .225 with six home runs and 19 runs batted in, gaining valuable experience heading into 2026.
Looking ahead, the Athletics optioned Thomas to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the 2026 season, with the plan of refining his plate approach against upper-level pitching before a likely return to the major league roster. His blend of power, speed, and on-base skills gives Oakland a high-upside outfielder to build around in the coming seasons.
