Brad Thomas
Encyclopedia
Bradley Richard Thomas (born October 22, 1977 in Sydney
, Australia
) is an Australia
n professional baseball
pitcher
that is currently a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins
and Detroit Tigers
, in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
and in the Korean Baseball Organization
for the Hanwha Eagles. He bats and throws left-handed
.
Thomas signed as an undrafted free agent
in by the Los Angeles Dodgers
. The Dodgers released him on May 9, 1997, due to visa issues with the government, and three days later, he signed with the Minnesota Twins
. Thomas became the #1 pitching prospect with the Twins from 1998-2004. Thomas was a 4-time All-Star in the minor leagues and a World All-Star (2001 Futures Game).
Thomas played in the majors with the Twins between and appearing in 101 games. Thomas was traded to the World Champion Boston Red Sox in 2004. In , Thomas signed with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
of Japan
. Thomas played for them from 2005-, appearing in 119 games as a relief pitcher
. Compiling a 2.9 ERA over 2 seasons. Thomas was a member of the 2006 Japan Series and Asian Series Champions, Nippon Ham Fighters. Thomas holds the record for a 156 km/h (96.9 mph) fastball from a left-hander in Japan.
Thomas signed with the Seattle Mariners
for the season.
In , Thomas signed with the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization
. During his two years in the KBO league, he had 44 saves with a 5-1 record and a 2.06 ERA as the closer
for the Eagles. He owns the KBO single season (120 Games) record for Saves, with 33 in 2008.
Thomas signed a major league contract with the Detroit Tigers
on December 7, 2009. He spent the entire 2010 season pitching out of the Tigers bullpen, compiling a 6-2 record with a 3.89 ERA in 69-1/3 innings. He made 2 spot starts for Detroit vs Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.
In 2011, Thomas started the season once again as a regular in Detroit Tigers strong Bullpen. After coming off a great spring training, he was placed on the 15 day disabled list on May 11, with minor left elbow inflammation. On July 25, 2011, Thomas was placed on the 60-day disabled list, where he finished the season with the American League runner ups.
, having competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and also Baseball World Cups. At the 2009 World Baseball Classic
, Thomas was a closing pitcher for Team Australia.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
that is currently a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
and in the Korean Baseball Organization
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
for the Hanwha Eagles. He bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Thomas signed as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. The Dodgers released him on May 9, 1997, due to visa issues with the government, and three days later, he signed with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Thomas became the #1 pitching prospect with the Twins from 1998-2004. Thomas was a 4-time All-Star in the minor leagues and a World All-Star (2001 Futures Game).
Thomas played in the majors with the Twins between and appearing in 101 games. Thomas was traded to the World Champion Boston Red Sox in 2004. In , Thomas signed with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Thomas played for them from 2005-, appearing in 119 games as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. Compiling a 2.9 ERA over 2 seasons. Thomas was a member of the 2006 Japan Series and Asian Series Champions, Nippon Ham Fighters. Thomas holds the record for a 156 km/h (96.9 mph) fastball from a left-hander in Japan.
Thomas signed with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for the season.
In , Thomas signed with the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
. During his two years in the KBO league, he had 44 saves with a 5-1 record and a 2.06 ERA as the closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
for the Eagles. He owns the KBO single season (120 Games) record for Saves, with 33 in 2008.
Thomas signed a major league contract with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on December 7, 2009. He spent the entire 2010 season pitching out of the Tigers bullpen, compiling a 6-2 record with a 3.89 ERA in 69-1/3 innings. He made 2 spot starts for Detroit vs Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.
In 2011, Thomas started the season once again as a regular in Detroit Tigers strong Bullpen. After coming off a great spring training, he was placed on the 15 day disabled list on May 11, with minor left elbow inflammation. On July 25, 2011, Thomas was placed on the 60-day disabled list, where he finished the season with the American League runner ups.
International career
Thomas was a member of the Australian National TeamAustralia national baseball team
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. They are ranked as the top team in Oceania, and are the Oceanian Champions, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand withdrew from the Oceania Baseball Championship. They...
, having competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and also Baseball World Cups. At the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
, Thomas was a closing pitcher for Team Australia.
External links
- KBO career statistics and player information from Koreabaseball