Thomas feeling at home in first spring in Goodyear

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Lane Thomas had a huge postseason run for the Guardians before he ever set foot in Goodyear for Spring Training.

So forgive the guy who belted two home runs with nine RBIs in five ALDS games last October for having to find his way around the complex when he arrived in Arizona for camp this month.

Midseason trades are enough to uproot any player¡¯s life on and off the field, and the 29-year-old center fielder has been there before. Now entering his seventh year in the Majors, Thomas was acquired from the Nationals at last summer's Trade Deadline, which marked the third time since 2017 he¡¯s been traded in July.

Add to that he was so focused on his old club that he honestly wasn¡¯t sure what the Guardians were up to at the time he was dealt for left-hander Alex Clemmey and shortstops Rafael Ramirez Jr. and Jos¨¦ Tena on July 29. (For the record, Cleveland had the best record in the AL at that point.)

¡°You kind of go in blind. You¡¯re just so caught up with that team and that season and what your job is there,¡± Thomas said prior to Tuesday's 9-6 loss to the Brewers at Goodyear Ballpark. ¡°This place has done well in the investment and development side of things. It¡¯s cool here. They have a lot of people and a lot of resources, and you see why they¡¯ve been successful.¡±

Thomas got off to a slow start in his new digs, batting .143 in August. He settled in, though, hitting .264 and driving in 20 runs in 25 games in September. Thomas¡¯ nine home runs from Sept. 2 through the end of the postseason were the third most in the AL, trailing only Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Things have continued to go Thomas' way in Goodyear in his first camp with the Guardians.

Thomas has one home run, two runs, two RBIs, one stolen base and three walks in his first two games of Cactus League play. Batting cleanup against the Brewers, he won an ABS challenge in the bottom of the first on his way to drawing a walk, then later came around to score.

¡°I¡¯m just trying to make sure my body feels good; really trying to test my limits and see how I feel,¡± Thomas said. ¡°Just be the best version of a center fielder I can be right now. That¡¯s been my focus.¡±

With Thomas in the mix, the Guardians are looking at a special outfield by the time Opening Day rolls around on March 27 in Kansas City.

All-Star and Gold Glover Steven Kwan returns to his spot in left, while right-handed-hitting Jhonkensy Noel and lefty Will Brennan figure to split time in right field based on matchups. That leaves Thomas as one of the favorites to lock up center, although he will play some right field during camp simply to check that box.

¡°We have a really good throwing outfield now,¡± manager Stephen Vogt said. ¡°Will worked extremely hard on his exchanges, and with Lane¡¯s arm strength in center -- it¡¯s always a tough throw with the mound [in the way] -- it¡¯s something no one talks about. Lane can throw the ball in.¡±

That¡¯s just what the team was looking for when it made the move at the Deadline last summer.

¡°Lane is one of the guys I¡¯m really excited to see what he can do in a full season with the organization,¡± Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Tuesday. ¡°He, obviously, went through a lot last year, getting traded again midseason, but we think Lane is a really capable Major League player that can contribute in every facet of the game.¡±