LOS ANGELES The rehabilitation process for Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas, which involved a setback, shutdown, PRP injection, and a gradual ramp back up, was described as “frustrating and stressful” because he had never been hurt before.
On March 31, Thomas had a high Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring, which required more than three months to heal.
Thomas was activated by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday after he fulfilled his requirements in a rehab game on Monday for Triple-A Reno.
The last milestones, according to Thomas, were “just consistently running hard and being able to get out of the box, sprint down to first or round the bases or around first base and also just trying to get into a routine that works for me.”
Manager Torey Lovullo stated, “I’ve been talking to him about how he was feeling over the past few days, and last night he decided that he was fully ready and excited to come back and join us.” “And I informed everyone, including you guys, that he would be our starting center fielder when it was his turn to be activated.”
On May 5, Thomas had a setback in a Triple-A game. If everything went according to plan, he was going to return to the team after a month away.
But it seemed like it took longer to get ready for that game, and something felt off during his final at-bat of the day.
Thomas added, “I hurt myself again rounding first base on the last bat.” “During the first round of the rehab, I was feeling well; it was just strange that it was taking me so long to get ready for the game. That last play was difficult and wounded me both mentally and physically. tried to go on and approached the subsequent rehab procedure with a more positive attitude.
On May 5, Thomas had a setback in a Triple-A game. If everything went according to plan, he was going to return to the team after a month away.
But it seemed like it took longer to get ready for that game, and something felt off during his final at-bat of the day.
Thomas added, “I hurt myself again rounding first base on the last bat.” “During the first round of the rehab, I was feeling well; it was just strange that it was taking me so long to get ready for the game. That last play was difficult and wounded me both mentally and physically. tried to go on and approached the subsequent rehab procedure with a more positive attitude.
Thomas received a PRP injection for swelling in his lower hamstring. He did not start playing rehab games in the complex league again until June 13, and his first game back with Reno was June 25.
But he was able to swing the bat for much of the rehab process, facing live pitching at Salt River Fields. He said that allowed him to continue working on his offense so that he would not fall back into habit he was trying to break and stay sharp.
“I think that was great for me to get six, seven at-bats everyday or so,” Thomas said. “I think maybe, out of a week, I probably had like 35 at-bats or something like that. It was good making sure to stay ready.”
Thomas returned to the lineup Tuesday, batting eighth and starting in center field. He walked in his first plate appearance.
“It’s great to see him back,” D-backs outfielder Corbin Carroll told Arizona Sports. “You hurt for a guy when he goes down, and with the hammy, you don’t know how bad it is right when it happens. … Just excited to see him build on what he was doing early in the year.”
How will the Diamondbacks manage the outfield?
Now that Thomas is back, the Diamondbacks have their full outfield back. Carroll slid back over to right field with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left on Tuesday. Jake McCarthy and Randal Grichuk were on the bench.
