St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Athletics left fielder Colby Thomas (32) doubles for his first career hit during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Athletics Rookie Goes Yard For 1st Home Run of MLB Career

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Sam Connon | Last updated Aug 7, 2025 1:10 PM ET

Colby Thomas hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire since making his big league debut on June 30.

But the 24-year-old outfielder finally broke out Thursday, doing his best to anchor the Athletics' offense in their rubber match against the Washington Nationals.

Thomas was facing a 3-1 count against Mitchell Parker when he took a hack at a fastball up and away. The rookie sent the ball 406 feet to center field, clearing the fence for his first career MLB home run.

First MLB home run for Colby Thomas pic.twitter.com/PcxdpsB7kD
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 7, 2025

The two-run shot opened the scoring in the second inning. Thomas came through with a sacrifice fly in the fourth that made it a 4-0 ballgame.

Thomas came off the bench in eight of his first 15 major league games. He was batting .129 with two singles, two doubles, three walks, an RBI, a stolen base, a .422 OPS and -0.3 WAR entering action Thursday.

The former third round pick is currently ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Athletics' farm system, which already churned out a pair of elite rookies in Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz earlier this year. Before the A's acquired shortstop Leo De Vries from the San Diego Padres at last week's deadline, Thomas was the organization's top-ranked position player who had yet to exhaust his rookie eligibility.

In his minor league career, Thomas hit .284 with an .880 OPS, racking up 67 home runs, 104 doubles, 13 triples and 47 stolen bases in 340 games.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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