DURHAM, NC – The Coastal Plain League (CPL) saw its first alum debut in the Majors on day two of the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. A day later, its second alum added his name — Connor Thomas — to the list, appearing in relief Saturday for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Thomas (picture courtesy MLB Pressbox) entered with a runner on first in the bottom of the third inning and the Brewers already trailing the New York Yankees, 7-3. Unfortunately, outside of making his debut, it was not the outing he had envisioned. In two innings of work, he gave up eight runs — all earned — on six hits, walked one and struck out two.
A fifth round selection by St. Louis in the 2019 MLB Draft, Thomas started at Low-A State College before moving to Single-A Peoria, where he was 2-1 with a 3.62 ERA in 10 appearances. In 2021, he started with Double-A Springfield but advanced quickly after four games to Triple-A Memphis. With the Redbirds, he went 6-4 with a respectable 3.10 ERA in 101 2/3 innings. Further, he featured 92 strikeouts compared to just 30 walks in that time. Over the next three seasons — all with Memphis — Thomas would go a combined 18-20 with a 4.76 ERA and was a consistent strikeout machine, racking up 258 punch outs against a mere 95 walks.
In December, Thomas was selected by the Brewers in the Rule 5 Draft. Then, at Spring Training for the Brew Crew, he appeared on the mount six times, throwing a total of 11 1/3 innings. He gave up 25 hits, eight runs, walked six and struck out 26 to finish with a 1-0 record and 2.22 ERA.
He was a consistent starter for the Lexington County Blowfish during the summer of 2017. Overall, he finished 2-3 with a 5.87 ERA in eight appearances — seven of those starts — and a total of 38 1/3 innings pitched. In that time, Thomas struck out a team-high 50, but also allowed 27 runs, 25 earned, on 45 hits and had 15 walks.
Thomas is the second CPL alum to make his debut in 2025 and the 196th overall. He is also the 12th former Blowfish player to play in the Majors, and the eighth since the club moved to Lexington County.
About Coastal Plain League:
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier and most innovative summer collegiate baseball league. The CPL is currently comprised of 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,800 alumni drafted, and 196 alums make their Major League debut. Most notable alumni include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, Alec Bohm, Jake Cave, Chas McCormick and NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @CPLBaseball.
About Capitol Broadcasting Company:
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, WRAL Digital and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV, WILT-LD and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality and Coastal Plain League in Durham, NC; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; Greenville Yard Gnomes in Greenville, NC, the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC, and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC.