Lane Thomas #35

Originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 5th round (114th overall) of the June, 2014 First-Year Player Draft...Graduated from Bearden (Tenn.) High School and signed his college letter of intent to play at the University of Tennessee, but was drafted and signed...His father, Mike, was a professional drag racer in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) circuit...Grew up learning how to operate racing simulators, competing against his father for practice...Resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.

2019

Played in 75 games in Memphis (AAA) and 34 in St. Louis before his season was cut short by a fractured right wrist injury following a hit by pitch...Made his Major League debut defensively at MIL (4/17), but homered in his first Major League at-bat, a pinch-hit two-run home run vs. NYM (4/19) off Seth Lugo, which was originally called a triple, before being ruled a home run after review...Became the 10th player in Cardinals history to hit a home run in his first Major League plate appearance and most recent since Paul DeJong at COL (2017). Was the first pinch-hit home run in MLB in a player's first plate appearance in 2019...His rookie season ended after getting hit by pitch in backto-back games at MIL (8/26 by Ray Black & 8/27 by Devin Williams), landing him on the 60-day injured list...Hit three pinch-hit home runs, ranking T6th in MLB and T2nd-most by a Cardinals player since Jeremy Hazelbaker set the club record with four in 2016...Smacked a go-ahead grand slam vs. PIT (8/11) as part of a 5 RBI game including a triple. Became the first Cardinal rookie to hit a triple, grand slam and total 5 RBI in a game since the RBI became an official statistic in 1920, and the first since JT Realmuto in 2015 with Miami...Recorded his first outfield assist vs. PIT (8/11) throwing out Adam Frazier at the plate in his second career start in centerfield....Ranked 28th in MLB in average exit velocity (92.8 MPH) according to StatCast, 2nd-highest behind Rangel Ravelo (94.8 MPH)...Batted .268 with 10 HR, 44 RBI, 17 doubles and 11 stolen bases at Memphis (AAA)...Hit a career-high three home runs at Oklahoma City (7/27) as part of back-to-back games with 4 RBI (7/26 at OKC)...Had two multi-home run games at Memphis...After the season, rated as the No. 17 prospect in the Pacific Coast League in Baseball America's Best Tools Survey.

2018

Combined to play a career-high 132 games between Springfield (AA) and Memphis (AAA) in his first full season with the Cardinals organization...Batted .264 with career highs in home runs (27), RBI (88), doubles (23), hits (136), runs (84) and walks (50)...Named to the Texas League Mid-Season and Postseason All-Star Teams. Was the starting right fielder and batted 3rd for the North squad and was 1-for-4 playing the entire game...Led all Cardinals minor league players in home runs and RBI and ranked in the Top 10 in runs (84, T-1st), hits (136, 4th), triples (6, T-5th), doubles (23, T-9th), walks (50, 4th) and stolen bases (17, 7th)... Ranked 3rd in Texas League slugging (.487) and 3rd in home runs/at bat ratio (18.29)...Led all Texas League outfielders in fielding percentage (1.000) in 246 total chances while collecting eight outfield assists...Had three multiple home run games with two within three days of each other (6/2 vs. San Antonio & 6/5 at NW Arkansas; 7/24 at Tulsa)...Batted .233 (7-30) with three RBI in the Pacific Coast League playoffs...Was 3-for-5 with a triple, home run and five RBI in the Triple-A National Championship game vs. Durham (9/18)...Played 20 games for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League batting .262 with a home run, 10 RBI and eight stolen bases...Ranked 6th in the AFL in stolen bases and T-7th with 14 walks.