Thomas' injury-plagued season officially over after right foot surgery

CLEVELAND -- A tough season for Lane Thomas formally came to a close on Tuesday, after the Guardians outfielder underwent right foot surgery to address a nagging case of plantar fasciitis. He is expected to make a full recovery and be unrestricted with all baseball activities in three to four months.

The Guardians had high hopes for Thomas entering this season; the 2024 Trade Deadline acquisition was a postseason hero last fall after he belted a grand slam off Tarik Skubal in Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Tigers. But he dealt with unfortunate injury luck nearly from the jump this season.

“Obviously, it's been tough,” Thomas said earlier this month. “I don't want to downplay the year, because it's been really hard. But at the same time, it's a tough game. … You play long enough, I feel like you run into some bad luck.”

Thomas had his share of it this season. After he was hit by a pitch in his right wrist in Cleveland’s April 8 home opener, he went on the 10-day IL with a right wrist bone bruise on April 22 and missed a month.

Thomas was activated off the IL on May 22, but he went back on it on May 30 due to plantar fasciitis. He was activated on June 9, but he again went down due to the foot issue on July 6. Thomas slashed .160/.246/.272 over 39 games.

“This has been a horrific year for him injury-wise,” manager Stephen Vogt said earlier this month. “It’s been a tough year. He just couldn't ever get healthy, and I feel for him.”

The foot issue could date back to last season. Thomas noted this month that he dealt with a bruising feeling in his heel after being traded from the Nationals to the Guardians, though it did not bother him through the postseason. It flared up at home over the offseason after he began running.

Imaging revealed a “pretty bad bone bruise” and swelling in his heel bone. Thomas underwent treatment and it was tolerable through Spring Training. He went as far as trying different shoes to get over the hump and talked to players such as Carlos Correa and Harrison Bader, who also have dealt with plantar fasciitis. Thomas got a cortisone shot while ramping back up to play during his current stint on the IL, but his foot did not respond.

Through his tough season, Thomas has remained a consistent presence in the Guardians' clubhouse. He pointed to his connection to his teammates when asked earlier this month whether he would enjoy a return to Cleveland in free agency this winter.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Thomas said. “I’ve gotten really close with these guys. It's a great clubhouse and a great organization. I've liked every second of it.”