Ian Thomas

Ian Drew Thomas

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 4 ", Weight 215 lb.
• School Virginia Commonwealth University, Louisburg Junior College
• High School Kellam High School
• Debut March 31, 2014
• Final Game September 27, 2015
• Born April 20, 1987 in Norfolk, VA USA

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Biographical Information

Ian Thomas made the majors in 2014; his cousin Nate Thomas played professionally.

Ian was 3-1 with a 3.95 ERA in junior college in 2006, fanning 29 in 27 1/3 IP. He fell to 0-1 with an ERA near 6 as a sophomore. Transferring to VCU, he improved to 3-3, 4.45 as a junior. He was 4-4 with a 4.27 ERA as a senior. Undrafted, he signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, going 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA in 11 games in 2009. In 2010, he improved to 5-1 with 4 saves and a 1.64 ERA in 34 games, fanning 60 and allowing only 36 hits in 55 IP. He remained sharp the next year with the Goldeyes (6-3, Sv, 2.20 in 37 G, 72 K in 57 1/3 IP, setting up for Jamie Vermilyea). He began 2012 with the York Revolution, going 1-0 with one run in 9 1/3 IP.

His performance in the independent leagues impressed the Atlanta Braves enough to sign him in May 2012. He was 5-0 with 6 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 26 games for the Rome Braves that summer, striking out 58 in 45 2/3 IP. Thomas posted a 7-8, 2.76 record with one save for the 2013 Mississippi Braves, striking out 123 in 104 1/3 IP and a .192 opponent average. Despite pitching mostly out of the bullpen, he was 6th in the Southern League in strikeouts and 4th in the Braves chain (between Omar Poveda and Jarrett Miller).

Thomas made the Braves' 2014 Opening Day roster. The lefty debuted in the opener, relieving Julio Teheran in the 7th with a 2-0 deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers. He retired Lyle Overbay and gave up a hit to Scooter Gennett before fellow rookie Gus Schlosser relieved him. he made 16 appearances for the Braves that season, all in relief, with a 1-2 record and a 4.22 ERA. His season was shortened by an injury, as he only pitched 13 times in the minors, including 3 starts on a rehabilitation assignment with the GCL Braves. He logged 22 2/3 innings, also pitching for Mississippi and the AAA Gwinnett Braves, with an ERA of 4.37. In 2015, he made 9 appearances between Mississippi and Gwinnett early in the season, allowing no runs in 15 2/3 innings before getting the call back to Atlanta. He only made 5 appearances with the Braves, with a 3.38 ERA in 5 1/3 innings, before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 27th. The trade involved 3B Juan Uribe and P Chris Withrow moving to Atlanta, while IF Alberto Callaspo and Ps Juan Jaime and Eric Stults accompanied him to Los Angeles. He made his first career start for the Dodgers on July 24th, filling in for Zack Greinke who was awaiting the birth of his first child. He did well, allowing 1 run over 5 innings, to earn a 7-2 win over the New York Mets.

Sources

• 2014 Braves Media Guide
• VCU bio

Related Sites

• Ian Thomas on mlb.com