{{short description|American baseball player (born 1983)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Clete Thomas | image = Clete Thomas on June 27, 2013.jpg | width = | caption = Thomas with the Minnesota Twins | position = Outfielder | bats = Left | throws = Right | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|11|14}} | birth_place = Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = March 31 | debutyear = 2008 | debutteam = Detroit Tigers |finalleague=MLB | finaldate = September 29 | finalyear = 2013 | finalteam = Minnesota Twins |statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .233 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 13 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 65 | teams = * Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2009}}, {{mlby|2012}}) * Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}}) }} '''Michael Clete Thomas''' (born November 14, 1983) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins between 2008 and 2013.
==Career== ===Amateur=== Thomas was born in Jacksonville, Florida and began his baseball career at Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida where he was a part of the state championship team in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|title=Turning 12 Part III: Living the dream |first=Brad |last=Milner |work=The News Herald |location=Panama City |date=June 28, 2008 |access-date=2009-06-17 |url=http://www.newsherald.com/sports/sauls-4702-thomas-baseball.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929224804/http://www.newsherald.com/sports/sauls-4702-thomas-baseball.html |archive-date=2011-09-29 }}</ref> He participated in the 1996 Little League World Series, representing Panama City, Florida.
Thomas attended Auburn University, where he played right field and batted .328 on the 2005 team which lost to Florida State in the NCAA regional tournament. In 2004, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2004&T=Harwich_Mariners |title=2004 Harwich Mariners |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref>
===Detroit Tigers=== ====Minor leagues==== After his junior year, Thomas was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.
Initially assigned to the Oneonta Tigers in the New York–Penn League, Thomas was promoted to the West Michigan Whitecaps on July 13, and proceeded to appear in 51 games, hitting .284.<ref>{{cite news | title=Draft may be Caps' cure; Lower-level leagues won't be providing help | work=Grand Rapids Press | page=D8 | date=June 21, 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title='Caps rally at home; Frazier's 2-run double in 8th lifts West Michigan | work=Grand Rapids Press | date=July 14, 2005 | page=D3}}</ref><ref name="bbref-minors">{{cite web | title=Clete Thomas Statistics (Minor Leagues) | url=http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=14437 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20070510070318/http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=14437 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2007-05-10 | access-date=2008-04-22 | work=Baseball-Reference.com }}</ref>
Thomas spent the 2006 season with the Lakeland Tigers, where he appeared in 132 games and hit .257 with 40 RBI and 34 stolen bases. In 2007, he was promoted to the Erie SeaWolves, where he hit .280 with 53 RBI and 18 stolen bases. Thomas, along with fellow outfielder Matt Joyce, was considered a likely future major leaguer. Commenting on the two, then-Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski remarked that "We think they're both prospects...We're not counting on them for this year, but they've got a chance to play at the Triple-A level (this season), depending on how they do this spring."<ref name="bbref-minors" /><ref>{{cite news | title=Dombrowski has inklings of deals but no inkings | work=Detroit Free Press | first=Jon Paul | last=Morosi | date=November 9, 2007 }}</ref>
====Major leagues==== A non-roster invitee to 2008 spring training, Thomas made the team after starting center fielder Curtis Granderson broke a finger and went on the disabled list.<ref>{{cite news | title=Tigers tell Thomas to suit up; Outfielder probable for opening-day roster | work=Grand Rapids Press | page=D5 | date=March 28, 2008 }}</ref> On Opening Day {{mlby|2008}}, Thomas entered the game as a defensive replacement and made his first major league putout against Joey Gathright of the Kansas City Royals. Thomas later hit a double in the bottom of the 11th inning off Royals closer Joakim Soria for his first major league hit.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET200803310.shtml March 31, 2008 Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score - Baseball-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Inge, rookie Thomas give Royals pain | work=Detroit Free Press | first=Jon Paul | last=Morosi | date=March 31, 2008 }}</ref>
Thomas split time in the 2008 Major League Baseball season between the Tigers and the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. On April 23, 2008, Thomas was optioned to Toledo when Curtis Granderson was activated from the disabled list.<ref>[http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/SPORTS02/80423062/0/SPORTS07 Grandy's back! Tigers' Curtis Granderson to play, lead off tonight | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Thomas was recalled from Toledo May 29 to replace struggling Matt Joyce.<ref>[http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/SPORTS02/80529036/1048 Tigers send Matt Joyce to Toledo; Clete Thomas to take his spot | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On June 4, Thomas sprained his ankle and went on the disabled list. He was replaced by Brent Clevlen. Thomas returned to the active roster on June 18.<ref>{{cite news |title=Polanco leads Tigers past Giants |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/16/sports/s220649D98.DTL |work=San Francisco Chronicle |first=Janie |last=McCauley |date=June 18, 2008 |access-date=2008-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622134645/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2008%2F06%2F16%2Fsports%2Fs220649D98.DTL |archive-date=2008-06-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On May 5, 2009, Thomas was called back up to the Tigers in a game against the Minnesota Twins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4142812 |title=Guillen goes on DL; Ordonez dropped |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=May 5, 2009 |access-date=March 6, 2014}}</ref> In the game, Thomas went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and triple, making him a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. On June 7, against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Thomas hit the first grand slam of his career off Angels reliever Jason Bulger to break a 5–5 eighth-inning tie. On June 12, Detroit optioned Thomas back to Toledo and called up Don Kelly. Said manager Jim Leyland: "I think he has a shot to be an everyday player, but he has to shorten up his swing...he will be back."{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} On July 9, Thomas was recalled, and Kelly was sent back to Toledo.<ref>{{cite news | title=Tigers send down Clete Thomas, call up Don Kelly | first=Kent | last=McDill | date=June 11, 2009 | access-date=2009-06-12 | url=http://www.freep.com/article/20090611/SPORTS02/90611098/1050/SPORTS02/Tigers+send+down+Clete+Thomas++call+up+Don+Kelly | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615055504/http://www.freep.com/article/20090611/SPORTS02/90611098/1050/SPORTS02/Tigers%2Bsend%2Bdown%2BClete%2BThomas%2B%2Bcall%2Bup%2BDon%2BKelly | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 15, 2009 | work=Detroit Free Press }} </ref> Thomas has two walk-off hits in 2009. On August 3, Thomas hit his first career walk-off home run against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Danys Báez and on August 20, Thomas hit a walk-off single to beat the Seattle Mariners 7–6.
Thomas spent all of 2010 and 2011 at Triple-A after not making the Tigers roster. In 2010, Thomas played 21 games and hit .183 over that time. In 2011, he hit .251 with 12 home runs in 113 games.
===Minnesota Twins=== On April 14, 2012, Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. Thomas joined the Twins for their April 15, game at Target Field. He hit a two-run home run in his first game with the Twins against Texas Rangers pitcher Neftalí Feliz.<ref name="hrdebut">{{cite news |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_15_texmlb_minmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=min |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417041026/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_15_texmlb_minmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2012 |title=Perkins can't protect lead for solid Hendriks |date=April 15, 2012 |last=Bollinger |first=Rhett |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=May 22, 2012}}</ref>On May 5, Thomas was designated for assignment by the Twins. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.<ref name="waivers">{{cite news |url=http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2012/05/ex-tiger_clete_thomas_clears_w.html |title=Ex-Tiger Clete Thomas clears waivers, assigned to Minnesota Twins' Triple-A affiliate |publisher=MLive.com |last=Schmehl |first=James |date=May 6, 2012 |access-date=May 22, 2012}}</ref>
Thomas began 2013 with Rochester as their center fielder. In 36 games with the Red Wings, he hit .296/.385/.576 with nine home runs and 25 RBI before being promoted. One June 3, Thomas was called up by Minnesota as an extra outfielder because Wilkin Ramírez was dealing with a concussion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_23389525/minnesota-twins-clete-thomas-calls-promotion-pleasant-surprise |title=Minnesota Twins' Clete Thomas calls promotion 'a pleasant surprise' |work=Pioneer Press |first=Mike |last=Berardino |date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> On June 10, starting center fielder Aaron Hicks was placed on the disabled list, opening the door for Thomas. When Hicks returned on July 2, Thomas was moved into a fourth outfielder role. During the All-Star break, left fielder Oswaldo Arcia was optioned to Rochester, and Thomas took over there. On August 2, Hicks was optioned to Rochester and Arcia was recalled, sliding Thomas over to center field. On August 31, the Twins acquired Alex Presley from the Pirates, and Presley started at center field in September, moving Thomas into a reserve role. In 92 games for the Twins, mostly in center field, Thomas hit .214/.290/.307 with four home runs, 13 RBI, 39 runs and 92 strikeouts. On October 2, Thomas was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Rochester.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Twins Outright Roenicke, De Vries, Thomas, Martis|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/10/twins-outright-roenicke-de-vries-thomas-martis.html|access-date=April 19, 2026|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Philadelphia Phillies=== Thomas signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 15, 2013. He was released on August 12, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Phil|title=Twins' 2013 leader in OF games signs with Phillies|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/232093131.html|access-date=March 6, 2014|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=November 15, 2013|location=Minneapolis, MN}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Clete Thomas}} {{Baseballstats | mlb=460004 | espn=29077 | br=t/thomacl02 | fangraphs=3373 |brm=thomas001mic}}
{{Portal bar|Baseball|Biography}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Clete}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Detroit Tigers players Category:Minnesota Twins players Category:Auburn Tigers baseball players Category:Harwich Mariners players Category:Major League Baseball center fielders Category:Baseball players from Jacksonville, Florida Category:Oneonta Tigers players Category:West Michigan Whitecaps players Category:Lakeland Tigers players Category:Erie SeaWolves players Category:Toledo Mud Hens players Category:Rochester Red Wings players Category:Florida Complex League Phillies players Category:Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Category:21st-century American sportsmen