Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Alek Thomas, currently playing for Triple-A Oklahoma City, went viral over the weekend after the Sacramento River Cats’ mascot ran into him while riding a scooter.
In a game against the River Cats on Saturday, Thomas came out of the dugout and began walking towards the field. Perhaps not paying attention, River Cats mascot Dinger—dressed in a Santa hat and coat for Sacramento’s “Christmas in July” celebration—rode his scooter down the first base line and directly into Thomas.
After their collision, both Dinger and Thomas briefly fell to the floor before beginning to get up—apparently unharmed—before a stadium worker began making their way over.
Thankfully, Thomas didn’t sustain any obvious injuries, though sat out for the series finale against the River Cats on Sunday. He returned to the lineup Tuesday and hit a double in an 8-6 loss to the Las Vegas Aviators.
What Other Minor League Incidents Have Come This Season?
Thomas, surprisingly, isn’t the first Dodgers farmhand to be on the unfortunate end of a minor league incident this season, as Kendall George suffered a serious injury while attempting to avoid Double-A Tulsa’s bat dog in May.
George awkwardly attempted to avoid the dog as he jogged back to the dugout, injuring his patellar tendon in the process, and didn’t return to Double-A until July.
Who is Alek Thomas?
Thomas, 26, began his MLB career in 2022 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is only playing his first season in the Dodgers’ system. The Diamondbacks designated the outfielder for assignment in May, and the Dodgers traded minor leaguer Jose Requena to Arizona in exchange for him.
They immediately placed him in the Arizona Complex League before moving him up to Triple-A a few games later, and he is yet to appear in MLB since his arrival. He has played 36 games with the Comets in Triple-A this season, hitting five homers and driving in 21 runs while maintaining a .756 OPS.
Through parts of five seasons in MLB, Thomas has a career OPS of .634 with 31 homers and 143 RBIs to his name. Prior to his designation for assignment this year, Thomas played 28 games with the Diamondbacks and had a career-worst .562 OPS.
