Connor Thomas Bio
Sidney Connor Thomas (born May 29, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the Atlanta Braves organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, making his debut in 2025. Thomas was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019 and has spent parts of his career developing through their minor league system before advancing to the majors.
Early Life and Background
Thomas was born on May 29, 1998. He attended Tift County High School in Tifton, Georgia, where he developed his skills as a baseball pitcher during his high school years. His standout performance came during his junior year in 2015, when he posted an impressive 8–1 record with a 0.67 earned run average, demonstrating early promise as a collegiate-level talent.
Despite his strong high school performance, Thomas went unselected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. This led him to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level, where he would further develop his pitching abilities before ultimately being drafted in 2019.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his unselected draft year, Thomas enrolled at Georgia Tech to play college baseball for the Yellow Jackets. As a freshman in 2017, he appeared in games but struggled with an ERA over 11.00 across limited innings. However, he made significant strides as a sophomore, earning a spot in the starting rotation where he went 7–4 with a 3.34 ERA and 106 strikeouts over 97 innings across 15 games.
His most dominant collegiate season came as a junior in 2019, when Thomas compiled a 9–2 record with a 3.11 ERA over 113 innings, making 16 starts. This performance caught the attention of MLB scouts and led to his selection in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.
Connor Thomas Career
St. Louis Cardinals Organization (2019–2023)
The St. Louis Cardinals selected Thomas in the fifth round with the 155th overall selection of the 2019 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization and began his professional career with the State College Spikes of the Low-A New York-Penn League before receiving a promotion to the Peoria Chiefs of the Single-A Midwest League in July. Between the two clubs, Thomas went 4–1 with a 3.77 ERA across 43 innings pitched. He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To begin the 2021 season, Thomas was assigned to the Springfield Cardinals of Double-A Central. After compiling a 4.87 ERA over 20 and one-third innings, he earned a promotion to the Memphis Redbirds of Triple-A East. With Memphis, he appeared in 22 games (14 starts), going 6–4 with a 3.10 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 101 and two-thirds innings, solidifying his status as a prospect within the Cardinals organization.
Thomas returned to Memphis for the 2022 season, where he appeared in 28 games (25 starts) and posted a 6–12 record with a 5.47 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 135 innings. Following the season, he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters, where he compiled a 1.75 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 25 and two-thirds innings. His standout performance earned him Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year honors. On November 15, 2022, the Cardinals selected Thomas’s contract and added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Thomas was optioned to Memphis to begin the 2023 season. He appeared in 21 games (17 starts) with Memphis, going 5–4 with a 5.53 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 94 and one-third innings. The Cardinals designated him for assignment on November 14, 2023, after adding multiple prospects to the 40-man roster. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on November 16. He returned to Memphis for the 2024 campaign, where he posted a 7–4 record with a 2.89 ERA, 79 strikeouts, and three saves over 90 and one-third innings across 56 appearances, his most productive professional season.
Milwaukee Brewers (2025)
On December 11, 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Thomas in the Rule 5 draft, acquiring him from the Cardinals organization. On March 22, 2025, the Brewers announced that Thomas had made the team’s Opening Day roster, securing his spot on a major league roster for the first time in his career.
He made two appearances for Milwaukee before being placed on the injured list with left elbow arthritis on April 8, 2025. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 18. On July 1, it was announced that Thomas would require surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow, with Tommy John surgery remaining as a potential future procedure. The Brewers outrighted Thomas off the 40-man roster on October 24, and he chose to become a free agent rather than accept an assignment to the minor leagues.
Atlanta Braves Era (2025–Present)
On November 6, 2025, Thomas signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization. This move marked a new chapter in his career as he looked to recover from his elbow injury and work toward returning to major league competition with a new club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Throughout his minor league career, Thomas developed as a starting pitcher capable of logging heavy innings workloads. His ability to work deep into games was evident in his collegiate career at Georgia Tech and continued through his time in the Cardinals system, where he made 25 starts in a single Triple-A season. He has shown the capacity to pitch effectively both as a starter and reliever, appearing in 56 games in a setup role during his final season with Memphis.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thomas’s most significant professional achievement prior to his MLB debut came in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, where he was named Pitcher of the Year after dominating hitters with a 1.75 ERA. His selection to the 40-man roster by the Cardinals in November 2022 represented a milestone in his development. His MLB debut in 2025 with the Brewers marked the culmination of his journey from undrafted high school player to major league pitcher.
Connor Thomas Career Wins
Thomas has accumulated victories across his minor league career in the Cardinals organization, with his most productive professional season coming in 2024 at Triple-A Memphis where he posted a 7–4 record. His MLB record stands at 0–0 through his brief major league tenure with Milwaukee.
Minor League Highlights
Throughout his minor league career, Thomas has logged over 100 innings pitched in multiple seasons and has shown the ability to miss bats with his strikeout totals. His 2024 season with Memphis represented his best professional results, as he went 7–4 with a 2.89 ERA and three saves across 56 appearances, demonstrating versatility between starting and relieving roles. His 2021 season with Memphis also stands out, as he went 6–4 with a 3.10 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 101 and two-thirds innings.
Other Wins and Performances
Thomas’s early professional career saw him compile a 4–1 record between State College and Peoria in his debut season. His 2023 season at Triple-A Memphis included a 5–4 record, and his 2022 campaign featured a 6–12 record across 25 starts, the most starts he has made in a single professional season.
2025 Season Performance
Thomas’s 2025 season was defined by his brief major league stint with the Milwaukee Brewers followed by injury. After making the Opening Day roster on March 22, he appeared in just two games before being placed on the injured list with left elbow arthritis on April 8. His season continued to trend downward when he required surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow on July 1, with Tommy John surgery remaining a possibility for the future. The Brewers outrighted him off their 40-man roster on October 24, leading him to choose free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment. He subsequently signed with the Atlanta Braves on November 6, 2025, to begin his recovery and career reset with a new organization.