Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas was a big piece to the team’s run to the 2023 World Series. His game-tying home run in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series stands out.
Now with Thomas’ swing tweaks entering his fifth season on top of his plus defense, general manager Mike Hazen is hoping the outfielder can rekindle some of that success in what he’s calling a “huge” 2026 for the 25-year-old.
“It’s time. He’s got three-plus years in now. He’s got 1,000 at-bats under his belt,” Hazen told Bickley & Marotta on Friday. “Those adjustments need to start happening. He knows that. He’s working hard. I appreciate how he’s going into this.
“He knows what he needs to do to lock down that position. We knew how good we were when we locked down that position in 2023.”
This season is a "huge" one for Diamondbacks OF Alek Thomas, GM Mike Hazen told @Bickley_Marotta.
"It's time. … He knows what he needs to do to lock down that position."
Full interview: https://t.co/Xjxm62RimN pic.twitter.com/llpSbUZnCQ
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 20, 2026
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While he’s got the defensive chops to play center field, it’s on Thomas to round his game on the offensive side of things. One of the biggest areas Thomas can improve upon in 2026 is limiting the strikeouts from an offensive standpoint.
Despite setting career marks in average (.249), OBP (.289) and OPS (.659), and tying a career-high in homers with nine in 2025, Thomas racked up a career-worst 122 strikeouts across 143 games played.
Being able to get on base on a more consistent basis is key, too, whether that’s off a hit or a walk.
There’s also the health factor to take into account for the 25-year-old, Hazen said.
“He’s had some injuries, so he’s been banged up. I think it’s taken a physical and mental toll on him a little bit coming back,” Hazen said. “I think those speed guys when they lose their legs sometimes, it has a bigger impact injury-wise than you can imagine, because that’s their identity. That’s how they play their game. He’s perfectly healthy, he’s back into it.”
But for now, Thomas is working through his new swing with Cactus League play officially underway on Friday.
He’s also got the World Baseball Classic on the docket for the second time in his career, giving him more time to fine-tune things in preparation for the regular season while playing for Mexico.
“I think it helps with the upcoming season playing in those meaningful games and having to play the game right,” Thomas told reporters. “You have situational hitting and baserunning as well. So, stuff you might not get in the spring training games.
“Things move a little bit quicker in those games just like it would in a big league game in the regular season. I think it’s good preparation for all of us that are in it.”
from Arizona Sports https://ift.tt/Io0VYUh
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