Dodgers: 3 spring performances forgotten amid the shutdown

Cody Thomas

A Texas League mid-season All-Star in 2019, the 6-foot-4 Cody Thomas has already proven he has power in the lower ranks, but Dodger fans got to see it on full display at Camelback Ranch this past March.

Thomas hit five home runs in just 22 at-bats, tied for the most homers in Spring Training (with three others who did it with more at-bats). He went 7-22 at the plate, five of his hits turning into long balls, another a triple. He turned his non-roster invite to camp into a productive endeavor.

The Texas native is a two-sport athlete who played both baseball and football at the University of Oklahoma before being drafted in the 13th round by the Dodgers in 2016 (he was originally drafted by the Yankees in 2013 before attending college).

The key for Thomas is proving that he can develop a patient eye, allowing him to reach base without the benefit of swinging the bat, and to reduce his strikeout rate, which hovers around 30 percent in the minors. Even with his hot spring, he still struck out seven times in just 22 at-bats.

If Thomas can build off his spring performance with a strong season in the minors, he could see time with the Dodgers soon enough.