Diamondbacks name Thomas, Smith top minor leaguers of May

Jun 5, 2019, 1:04 PM

D-backs prospect Alek Thomas (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

Arizona Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Alek Thomas and Riley Smith as their Minor League Player Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for the month of May.

Thomas is an outfielder for the team’s Single-A affiliate, the Kane County Cougars, while Smith is a pitcher with the Jackson Generals, the team’s Double-A affiliate.

The 19-year-old Thomas hit .337/.409/.592 in May with four home runs and 15 RBI, while also having the Midwest League’s third-best OPS and sixth-best average.

Smith, 24, had a 0.53 ERA in 33.2 innings during May with 24 strikeouts. His ERA was the best in the Southern League and Smith finished tied for first in complete games during the month.

Smith was a D-backs selection in the 24th round of the 2016 MLB draft out of LSU. In 10 games this season, he has a 1.65 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 60 innings.

Thomas was a second-round draft pick of the D-backs in the 2018 MLB draft from Mount Carmel High School in Illinois. In 49 games this season, he is hitting .310/.395/.495 with five home runs and 24 RBI.

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