Thomas begins his second full season in Chicago's organization after he was claimed off waivers from Texas, September 4, 2009
... he made his major league debut with the Cubs last season after starting the year at Triple-A Iowa.
© Overall in 138 minor league games (98 starts), is 36-21 with two saves
and a 3.84 ERA (232 ER/543.1 IP) ... struck out 591 compared to just
287 walks.
© Sat out the 2007 season after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery in
March of that year.
© Was ranked by Baseball America as the Rangers' number four prospect
following the 2006 campaign ... was rated as the club's top prospect by
the publication in 2004.
© Was named the Rangers' Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year in
2005.
© Was selected by the Rangers in the first round (10th overall) of the 2004
June Draft.
© Attended the University of New Orleans ... graduated from Archbishop
Rummel High School (La.).
2010
Thomas spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Iowa before his promotion to Chicago, August 2 ... in his first career major
league action, he went 1-3 with a 6.83 ERA (22 ER/29.0 IP) in 16 games (three starts) for the Cubs.
... Was 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA (10 ER/16.0 IP) in 13 relief appearances compared
to an 0-3 mark with an 8.31 ERA (12 ER/13.0 IP) in three starts.
... Held the opponent scoreless in eight of his 13 relief outings.
... Made his big league debut, August 3, in a start against the Brewers ...
fanned 10 in 6.0 innings of work and became just the second Cub since
1920 to reach 10 or more strikeouts in his big league debut - joined
Mark Prior, who stuck out 10, May 22, 2002 vs. Pittsburgh.
w Struck out the first four batters he faced, and seven of the first
eight ... allowed three runs in Chicago's 4-3 setback.
... Allowed nine runs in a combined 7.0 innings of work in his next two
starts, August 8 vs. the Reds and August 13 in St. Louis, before moving
to the bullpen.
... In his first career relief appearance, August 18 vs. San Diego, tossed 2.0-
shutout frames, yielding one hit and fanning two.
... Earned his first major league victory in September 1's 5-3 win over
Pittsburgh, despite yielding two runs on two hits (one homer) and one
walk, while fanning three in 1.2 innings of relief.
... Was 5-4 with a 3.16 ERA (38 ER/108.1 IP) in 21 starts for Iowa prior to
his promotion.
... Was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team ... he started the
game, tossing 2.0-scoreless innings en route to PCL Star of the Game
honors.
... At the time of his call-up, his 104 strikeouts ranked second in the Pacific
Coast League and his 3.16 ERA ranked fifth-lowest.
2009
Thomas went 2-3 with one save and a 4.20 ERA (26 ER/55.2 IP) in 38 games (one start) with Double-A Frisco and Triple-A
Oklahoma City ... was designated for assignment by Texas September 1 and was claimed off waivers by Chicago September 4...Went 1-0 with a 6.55 ERA (8 ER/11.0 IP) in six games (one start) in the
first Triple-A action of his career, April 10-May 1...Limited opponents to a .273 average (12-for-44) ...Made his lone start of the season in Oklahoma City's 8-3 win over
Memphis April 18 ... tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, yielding just one hit
and one walk...Was sidelined, May 1-12, with right-shoulder tendinitis ... joined Double-
A Frisco after coming off the disabled list...Posted a 1-3 mark with one save and a 3.63 ERA (18 ER/44.2 IP) in 32
games for Frisco ... held left-handed hitters to a .213 mark (20-for-94)...Had a monthly-low 2.08 ERA (3 ER/13.0 IP) in eight July appearances...Was claimed off waivers by the Cubs September 4 and optioned to Triple-
A Iowa the same day ... was outrighted to Iowa September 23.
2008
Opened the year in extended spring training as he returned from elbow surgery, then went 3-3 with a 6.20 ERA (37 ER/53.2
IP) in 12 games/11 starts after joining Frisco (AA) in late May...battled a bone spur in his right ankle, enduring a disabled list stint
before trying to return, and then shutting it down for the season with surgery...had surgery to shave down the bone spur in the ankle
in September...operation was performed in Frisco by Dr. John Crates...opponents batted .267 (54-202) with 3 homers, 37 walks, and
47 strikeouts...lefties batted .288 (15-52) with right-handers at .260 (39-150)...pitched at least 5.0 innings 4 times, including seasonhigh
6.0 frames in win on June 23 vs. Corpus Christi...issued multiple walks in 11 of 12 outings...made season debut May 21 at Tulsa,
allowing 6 runs in 4.2 innings, his first professional appearance since spring training of 2007...allowed 9 runs in 4.0 innings in loss
June 30 at Arkansas, and was placed on the disabled list July 1-19 with the bone spur issue in his right ankle...returned to make 4
more appearances, including a 4.0-inning relief outing on July 30 vs. Midland...made final appearance on Aug. 4 at San Antonio, taking
no decision (4.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R-ER)...was placed on DL on Aug. 12 for duration of season before undergoing surgery in September.
2007
Underwent Tommy John surgery in March and missed the season ... was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster November 19.
2006
Spent the entire season with Double-A Frisco, going 12-5 with a 4.24 ERA (61 ER/129.1 IP) and 145 strikeouts in 27 starts ...
set a Frisco franchise record for wins and strikeouts...Among Texas minor league pitchers, tied for the lead in wins, ranked second in strikeouts and tied for eighth in ERA...Named a Texas League mid-season and post-season All-Star...Was on the disabled list, June 20-July 30, with forearm cramping.
2005
Named as the Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year in his first full professional season...split the campaign
between Bakersfield (A) and Frisco (AA), combining to go 13-4 with a 3.53 ERA (59 ER/150.1 IP) and 169 strikeouts in 28
games/starts...led all Texas full-season minor leaguers in wins, ERA and strikeouts...earned Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the
Month honors in May and June, going 5-0, 1.66 (11 ER/59.2 IP) with 78 strikeouts in 10 games/starts for Bakersfield and Frisco during
that two-month stretch...ranked by Baseball America as the Rangers' 3rd-best prospect during the offseason...tabbed by the
same publication as the 4th-best prospect in the Texas League and the 8th-best prospect in the California League.
Bakersfield: Started the season with the Blaze, going 8-0 with a 1.99 ERA (18 ER/81.1 IP) in 14 games/starts...held California
League batters to a .191 (53-277) average, including a .136 (12-88) mark in June...went 3-0 with a 3.16 ERA (9 ER/25.2 IP) over 5
games/starts, through April 30...was 5-0, 1.46 (9 ER/55.2 IP) with 72 strikeouts over final 9 games/starts to lower Cal League ERA
from 3.16 to 1.99...registered wins in each of his final 4 Bakersfield starts, posting a 1.01 ERA (3 ER/26.2 IP) during that
span...recorded 5 or more strikeouts in 11 of 14 outings, including season-high 14 K's on June 9 vs. Lancaster and June 19 at High
Desert...did not allow an earned run in 6 of 14 starts...tossed first career complete game shutout in final start with the Blaze on June
19 at High Desert...did not walk a batter and allowed just one hit, a single by High Desert catcher Jared Price with one out in the 3rd
inning... Price was later picked off by Blaze catcher Justin Hatcher, as Diamond faced the minimum of 27 batters in his shutout performance...
following the hit, Diamond recorded the game's final 20 outs in order...the CG SHO was one of just 3 in the California
League in 2005, and the only one-hitter...recorded 10 strikeouts in 6.0 scoreless innings on May 29 at Lake Elsinore and tallied 14
K's in 7.0 scoreless frames on June 9 vs. Lancaster...held left-handers to a .162 (23-142) average and right-handers to a .222 (30-
135) mark...earned California League Pitcher of the Week honors in consecutive weeks, from June 6-12 and June 13-19...was
selected as a mid-season All-Star, but did not participate in the California League-Carolina League All-Star Game after being promoted
to Frisco...named as a California League Postseason All-Star, despite appearing in just 14 games for the Blaze...led the Cal
League in ERA and strikeouts and was tied for the league lead in wins at the time of his promotion.
Frisco: Promoted to Frisco on June 21...went 5-4 with a 5.35 ERA (41 ER/69.0 IP) and 68 strikeouts in 14 games/starts with the
RoughRiders...made Double-A debut on June 27 vs. Tulsa, allowing 2 runs in 4.0 innings...earned first Frisco win in his next start,
on July 2 vs. San Antonio, allowing 2 runs (one earned) in 7.0 innings...lost both of his next 2 outings, allowing 9 earned runs in 7.0
innings to raise ERA from 2.45 to 6.00...won each of his next 3 starts, from July 19-29, posting a 2.41 ERA (5 ER/18.2 IP) to lower
ERA to 4.17...tossed 6.0 scoreless innings in last game of the stretch, on July 29 at Corpus Christi...was 1-2, 6.68 (24 ER/32.1 IP)
over his final 7 games/starts to raise ERA to 5.35...earned lone win in that season-ending stretch on August 30 at San Antonio, allowing
2 runs with 10 strikeouts in 7.0 innings...tossed 5.0 or more innings in 7 of 14 starts...recorded at least 5 K's in 9 of 14
outings...held opposing batters to a .249 average, .270 (31-115) against left-handers and .233 (35-150) against righties...went 2-2,
7.09 (26 ER/33.0 IP) in 7 games/starts at home and 3-2, 3.75 (15 ER/36.0 IP) in 7 games/starts away from Frisco's Dr. Pepper/Seven
Up Ballpark...held opposing batters to a .207 (28-135) average on the road...opposing batters hit just .231 (25-108) in 6 games/starts
in August.
2004
Split his first professional season with Single-A Spokane and Single-A Clinton, going a combined 1-2 with a 2.15 ERA (11
ER/46.0 IP) in 12 games (10 starts) ... was the 10th overall selection in the 2004 June Draft.
