This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
KANSAS CITY – Lane Thomas began his Royals career playing a good amount, but mostly as a platoon player against lefties and a defensive replacement in the outfield, which is kind of how the Royals envisioned his role when they signed him to a one-year, $5 million contract this offseason.
But they also stressed back in December and again in Spring Training that Thomas could play his way into an everyday role, and here we are now in July with Thomas as one of the mainstays of the Royals' lineup. It happened partly because of need, when center fielder Kyle Isbel went on the injured list on June 10 with left foot plantar fasciitis. But Thomas has completely run with the opportunity, enough to where the Royals don’t want to take him out of the lineup at all.
“He’s been in one of those spots where you’re not thinking about it,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “You pencil him in, and he goes out there and gives you a great effort. I love the fact that his work hasn’t changed, his attitude hasn’t changed. He loves to play.”
Thomas’ production from March 27-June 7:
147 PA, .225/.354/.308, 4 2B, 2 HR, 92 wRC+
Thomas’ production from June 10-July 20:
126 PA, .262/.331/.524, 12 2B, 7 HR, 133 wRC+
Thomas attributes the better results with consistent playing time and logging at-bats every night against righties and lefties. He’s also healthy for the first time since 2024 after dealing with right foot plantar fasciitis last season with the Guardians, an injury that eventually required surgery.
“I just feel comfortable right now,” Thomas said. “I think I’ve just been healthy all year. Been on and off the field a lot the previous year and a half, and it just feels good to feel good.”
When it comes to his swing, Thomas is simple and focuses more on sticking to his approach no matter what – not an easy thing to do, but one he’s learned works the best when encountering the ups and downs of a season.
“I know that early in the count, I don’t want to swing at certain pitches,” Thomas said. “Being committed to that helps you lay off the other stuff. Staying with your approach and knowing where you want to hit a pitch stops you from getting out that way. … But it’s hard. You do it for a week and you go 0-for-20, and now you’re like, 'I've got to swing at a pitch just in the zone to get a hit'. And you start chasing hits. It’s really hard. I’ve struggled so much in my career that finally you’re just like, ‘OK, I just got to stick with it.’”
With the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline looming, Thomas has turned into the Royals’ best trade chip – at least the one that you know has a pretty good chance of moving, unlike starters Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, who are under club control for two more seasons.
There are a ton of contending teams looking for right-handed bats, and Thomas crushes lefties, with a .289/.360/.488 slash line against southpaws in his career entering Tuesday. He has a .785 OPS against left-handers this season.
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“And he’s done a good job even in some of the matchups that are really tough on righties,” Quatraro said. “He’s done a good job with his approach. I think he’s really solidified in how he feels, his mechanics at the plate, and you see the results.”
It remains to be seen what the Royals could acquire for Thomas, whose status as a rental player will likely limit the return. But the demand is high and Thomas keeps improving his stock, so the Royals are bound to field calls from plenty of teams.
Thomas is no stranger to being traded mid-summer. The Cardinals shipped him to the Nationals in 2021, and he went to Cleveland at the ‘24 Deadline (the Royals were also interested in him at that point, too). He delivered two of the biggest hits in the Guardians’ American League Division Series win over the Tigers that year, a three-run shot in Game 1 and a massive go-ahead grand slam in Game 5.
Thomas and his family love Kansas City, both living here and playing for the Royals, but he knows this is a business. He takes this time of year like any other: Just keep working.
“I don’t have Twitter, I don’t have anything,” Thomas said. “Every team I’ve played for, I’ve been traded to before this year. So it’s kind of like, you just keep your head down and stay focused. Whatever happens, happens. It's more calming my wife down [with] all the rumors."