CLEVELAND, Ohio — Lane Thomas’ injury-plagued season took a turn for the worse Sunday when the veteran outfielder removed himself from the lineup before a scheduled rehab start at Double-A Akron.
Thomas, 30, has appeared in just 39 games for the Guardians this season after dealing with a bruised right wrist in April and May followed by a flareup of plantar fasciitis that has sidelined him since June.
Manager Stephen Vogt said Thomas pulled himself out of the RubberDucks’ lineup before Sunday’s game against Binghamton where he was slated to play seven innings in center field.
Thomas went hitless in eight at-bats with four strikeouts and a walk in three previous rehab starts beginning Sept. 2.
“We’re going to get him to see a specialist and determine the next steps,” Vogt said. “We’re just really bummed for Lane. It just hasn’t been the best season for him.”
Thomas agreed to a one-year, $7.825 million contract to avoid arbitration with the Guardians in January. After being acquired at the July trade deadline in 2024, Thomas helped Cleveland advance to the American League Championship Series by batting .240 with a pair of home runs and nine RBI in 10 games against the Tigers and Yankees.
But the Tennessee native struggled to stay on the field this season, batting .160 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 142 plate appearances. He was hit on the wrist by a pitch from White Sox righty Shane Smith during Cleveland’s home opener on April 8 and missed more than a month.
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