Despite its season not starting until the spring, Mercer University’s baseball program has something to celebrate this month. Former Mercer outfielder Colby Thomas ‘22 has been named to the USA Baseball Professional National Team roster for the team’s upcoming tournament in Mexico. Thomas was taken in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, in which he was taken by the Oakland Athletics in the third round, and currently plays in the A’s farm system.
Team USA will compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WSBC) Premier12 tournament, an international event featuring the top 12 baseball nations from around the world, and the first round will begin this November. If Team USA finishes as one of the top two teams in the group of six, it will move on to the Super Round, hosted in Tokyo.
Thomas joins a roster that highlights emerging talent and established players alike, some of whom have played in the tournament in past years. The tournament, held every four years, serves as a key benchmark for international baseball. In past events, Team USA has maintained a competitive edge, often finishing among the top nations. Their success in international tournaments like the Olympic Games and World Baseball Classic has established them as a powerhouse, consistently showcasing elite American talent to the world.
Team USA won the Olympic gold medal in baseball in 2000 and secured a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Their victory in the 2017 World Baseball Classic marked another milestone, further solidifying their status as a dominant force in global baseball competition.
Thomas, a standout during his college career at Mercer, earned accolades for his performance and left a mark on the Bears' baseball program. Drafted 95th overall in the third round by the Oakland A’s, the outfielder from Valdosta, Ga. had an injury-shortened season in 2022, starting 42 games, batting .325 and delivering 17 home runs with 45 RBIs. His list of accolades includes recognition on the 2021 Preseason All-SoCon Second Team and as a 2020 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, among other honors.
Head Coach Craig Gibson praised Thomas’s skill set in a press release following his being drafted by the A’s.
Thomas is “an explosive athlete. Unbelievable ball exit speed. He has the ability to play all three outfield positions. He came to us as an outfielder, and we kept him there,” Gibson said. “Pound for pound, one of the strongest guys to ever wear the jersey. Congratulations to Oakland for drafting one of the best outfielders in the draft.”
According to Mercer Athletics, Thomas was named the A’s Minor League Player of the Year in September after finishing sixth among all minor leaguers in home runs and hitting 44 doubles in 132 games.
Coming out of high school, Thomas was highly sought after. According to Perfect Game, he was the fourth-best high school outfielder in the state when he arrived on Mercer’s campus, and he was taken in the 37th round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles before becoming a Bear.
