28 year old rookie Ian Thomas became the 13th starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers when he faced the New York Mets in a spot start in game two of their four game series in New York. It was also Thomas' first major league start. He was filling in for Zack Greinke who went home to be with his wife for the birth of their child. Thomas pitched well, going five innings, striking out five and allowing only one run. The Dodgers had given him a three run cushion to work with by the top of the second inning and they added three more in the top of the third.
Ian Thomas had a circuitous route to get to the major leagues. He was undrafted and unsigned out of Virginia Commonwealth University and went pitched in the Independent Leagues to get to the majors. He pitched with Winnipeg of the Northern League from 2009-2011 and was pitching with York of the Atlantic League when the Atlanta Braves signed him in 2012. He has already pitched with five teams this season- AA Mississippi, AAA Gwinnett, Atlanta Braves, AAA Oklahoma City, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Thomas was acquired by the Dodgers from the Atlanta Braves in the Juan Uribe deal earlier this season and this is his second call up with the Dodgers. The five inning performance may have earned Thomas another trip back to Oklahoma City because when it comes to the fifth starter, I believe Manager Don Mattingly picks the pitchers name out of a hat. Ian Thomas knows that Los Angeles and Oklahoma City are a long way from Winnipeg.
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