Tom Brennan - The Fine Rhylan Thomas’ One Powerful Flaw

Rhylan Thomas, Back In College 

Rhylan Thomas, an outfielder drafted in the 11th round in 2022, has hit at 3 levels this year, most recently in AA, and frankly very rarely strikes out.

He reminds me of Jeff McNeil’s first 3 years in the minors, 2013-15, when he hit just 4 homers in 1,250 PAs, with low Ks, while hitting .305.  He added muscle and pop. He’s made millions.

And TJ Rivera, who in his first 5 seasons, hit just 24 HRs in 2,200 plate appearances, with low Ks, while hitting .320, and seemed to be going nowhere. In 2016, he raked with lots of doubles, 14 HRs in the minors and and nearly .350 hitting. Unfortunately for him, needing Tommy John surgery really adversely affected him and short-circuited a promising Mets utility player career, with a .304 average in 319 at bats.

Rhylan Thomas has the same high average, low K, but low power-so-far issue. In 975 plate appearances in college, Cape Cod, and the minors, he has had just 7 homers, to go along with 40 doubles and 6 triples, and just 73 strikeouts. 

And, despite hitting .328 as of September 19, he has just 21 XBHs in 346 PAs this year, a sub-par ratio. His .353 average in his first 16 AA games, in hs first full pro season, shows this young gent can flat-out HIT.

Again, first full pro year, starting out hitting .303 in 36 Lucie games. Then, in his 2 promotions, to High A and AA, 61 for 177 (.346), with 26 walks and JUST 15 Ks. But…

Without power, will the soon-to-be 24 year old Rhylan Thomas ever reach the majors? 

Even with the minor league Mets outfield Gold Glove Award going to Thomas this year.

Low-powered ex-Mets prospect Jake Mangum on September 19 had hit .303 in AAA over a full season for the Marlins. Good outfielder defensively, and quick. .291 career minors hitter.

He has, though, not gotten called up. 

He may very well turn out to be an inferior hitter to Thomas, and I believe that will be the case, but the lack of Thomas’ power is an apparent call-up deterrent, unless Thomas would hit .320 or more as a Met.

Teams these days want power bats and/or super-fast defensive whizzes in their outfields.

My advice?  

Hit the weight room, Rhylan, and hit it hard. 

ADD power, like Jeff and TJ did. 

You’re in a better place than many minor leaguers who have more power, but strike out 3 to 5 times as often as you do. They can’t fix that, but you can fix your issue easily…add strength, like McNeil and Rivera did.

The Dave Magadans of baseball are a lot more rare in these high-powered times.   Magadan back when he played was able to get up nearly 5,000 times from 1986 to 2001, despite just career 42 HRs and no speed at all. That wouldn’t happen in the 2020 baseball “power” decade.  Magadan might have gotten in 15 games, not 15 seasons, if he played these days.

So…

Increase your XBH rate substantially, or risk being “one of those guys who almost made it.”  Shed that low power reputation…your high average, and even close to average power, will provide you a long MLB career.

Heck, though, maybe he'll be the next Luis Arraez.  The supreme high average, low K guy in the game today.  Arraez is not a power machine. He just is a darned good, Gwynn-like, hitter.

I'd take that from Thomas, wouldn't you?

ANOTHER METS LOSS

7-5, bringing the team closer to a high draft pick.  Never like to lose, but it can have its advantages.

Baty is hitting again, an encouraging sign for 2024.

JARVIS CLOCKED AGAIN

3.1 IP, 9 hits, 2 walks, 5 runs.  Syracuse lost again. Jaylen Palmer on base 3 times, and on a roll.

AA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

An odd day off. Resumes Sunday. Best of 3.