Down on the Farm: An Interview with Arizona Diamondbacks Prospect Alek Thomas
Alek Thomas was the 63rd pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Mount Carmel High School in Illinois in 2018. Last week, I was able to meet up with newly named Midwest League All-Star.
Thomas, an excellent defensive centerfielder, stroked a home run of the White Sox’ Lucas Giolito in Spring Training this year, something that I’m sure was even more special for Alek because his dad is the director of conditioning for the White Sox.
During this season, the 19 year old Thomas has shown the ability to hit for more power than expected. He has put up a slash line of .311/.401/.508 with 6 home runs and 5 stolen bases through 52 games, and was named the Kane County Cougars player of the month for May. Below are some of the highlights from my interview with Alek Thomas and if you’d like to check out another interview I did with up and coming Brewer Brice Turang, you can find that here.
James Weisser: Who was your favorite player to watch?
Alek Thomas: I grew up as a White Sox fan obviously. I just liked watching them in particular. My favorite player to watch is probably Ken Griffey Jr., I just like watching his old highlights.
JW: Who do you model your game after?
AT: I’m not trying to model my game after anybody. I just try to be myself, but I like to look at Ken Griffey Jr. and other outfielders that are kind of like me in a way, and I try to add bits and pieces of their game and try to add it to mine. Once again definitely not trying to be somebody else out there, I’m just trying to be myself.
JW: What’s your favorite thing about the game of baseball?
AT: Just being able to come to the park everyday and have fun with the boys and getting a chance to play the game we love. Winning is a big thing, no better feeling than winning. Doing good is a big part of it, and having fun at the clubhouse.
JW: What’s your favorite movie?
AT: I’m not sure exactly, there’s a lot of them. I’m a scary movie guy, I also like funny movies, comedies. A classic is definitely the Spongebob Square Pants Movie. Definitely that one, it’s a classic, I’d probably say that one.
JW: What’s your favorite food?
AT: Chinese food. Definitely. I also like steak and shrimp, anything with steak or shrimp, I’d definitely be on board for that.
JW: What’s your favorite kind of music?
AT: Rap music or R&B, but I’m down for anything depending on what it is, but I really like rap and hip hop.
JW: What do you like to do outside of baseball?
AT: Outside of baseball activity wise I like to bowl, go to the arcade. I like going to Dave and Busters. Hang out with my family, my girlfriend, and play with dogs, I have two and my girlfriend has like six dogs so I enjoy playing with them.
JW: If you could have any superpower or be any super hero who or what would it be?
AT: Whatever Spiderman has I would like to have, that would be cool, or Captain America.
JW: What got you interested in baseball?
AT: I kind of just grew up in it with my dad so I was immediately interested in it.
JW: What inspired you to do your best?
AT: Probably my Dad, my grandfather, my family. I just have a feeling to keep going, to keep continuing to try and improve, and to do my best out there everyday. My mentality is there’s always someone better than me so I have to work to continue to improve so I can get better than the player that’s in front of me.
JW: What part of your game do you feel you do your best at? And what part do you feel you need to improve?
AT: I try to improve everything. I don’t feel like everything is set in stone, so I continue to work on everything, don’t think everything is good right now so always stay hungry, and want to improve in everything.
JW: What’s a hidden talent or something people might not know about you?
AT: I’m not exactly sure if it’s hidden or not but I was a three sport athlete in high school.
JW: How are you using baseball to help others?
AT: I try to be a nice, good, caring person all the time no matter who it is or what they might say, even if sometimes someone thinks their better than me or tries to put me down. I just try to have a nice even keel, don’t think anyone is too big or too small, I always try to treat people the same way. I also try to take from the Bible and treat others the same way as I would like to be treated.
