2026 Dynasty Baseball Prospects: Daily Write-Up Series #85 Colby Thomas

We’re 49 days from Opening Day, and the 2026 Dynasty Baseball Prospects: Daily Write-Up series turns to a bat-first outfielder already competing at the highest level. Coming in at #85 is Colby Thomas, a left fielder whose offensive production has carried him through the system and into MLB action. Thomas’ fantasy value is driven by power and run production rather than defensive versatility. At this stage of the rankings, he stands out as a profile built to contribute sooner rather than later.

Daily Baseball Write-Up Series #85 Colby Thomas

The A’s are begging for impact bats to stick, and Colby Thomas has kicked down the door. He doesn’t look overmatched; he looks like a middle-of-the-order piece who’s learning on the fly and punishing mistakes. When a 24-year-old shows real over-the-fence thump, competes in-zone, and forces his way into everyday at-bats, I’m paying attention.

What jumps first is the damage. Thomas is running a .291/.366/.894 line with a .237 ISO and 18 home runs through 384 plate appearances, good for a 108 wRC+. Context matters there: the OPS pops, the run value says he’s “above average” more than “star,” but the underlying shape supports a legit power bat. He’s pulling the ball 46.8%, living on firm line drives (22.8% LD) and enough loft (33.8% FB) to let the juice play. It’s a classic power-forward profile with bat speed and intent drive results. The swing is geared to lift, and he doesn’t need perfect contact to do damage.

Just starting out in a dynasty league? Then check out our Top-400 Overall Fantasy Prospects and Top-500 Dynasty League Rankings.

The swing-and-miss is the giveback, and it’s the lever that will determine whether Thomas settles in as a heartbeat OF2 or more of a category-flavored OF3. A 14.6% swinging-strike rate with 103 strikeouts in 384 PA (about 27% K) is elevated, and it makes his batting average a little fragile over long samples. The counter is a workable 8% walk rate, a .366 OBP, and real zone damage when he gets something he can handle. He hunts middle-in, turns velocity, and his more-than-respectable center/oppo rates (27.8%/25.3%) keep pitchers honest. Even without posting a gaudy fly ball rate, the power shows because the quality of contact and the pull-side lift are both there.

Athletically, Thomas brings some sneaky category glue. He chipped in 7 steals, and the speed shows up even if he’s not a pure burner. Defensively, he’s playable with enough arm to stick in a corner, which matters because his glove won’t push him off the field when the bat has a lull. Add it up, and you’re looking at a bat that’s pacing for high-20s homers over a full workload, with counting stats that follow if the A’s keep him in the heart of the order. There aren’t glaring red flags beyond the contact rate; everything else suggests a young hitter learning which pitches he can punish and leaning into them.

Fantasy Outlook

In Dynasty, Thomas looks like a buy who’s still priced below his ceiling. The 60-grade power is real, and with a Top-100 sheen (sitting around the mid-80s), he’s done enough to move from “intriguing athlete” to “bankable production.” In 5×5 Roto, you’re here for HR, RBI, and a batting average that can play as long as the K rate doesn’t spike, think seasonal variance more than a trap. He adds a handful of steals to round it out. In Points, the strikeouts cap his ceiling, but the walks and extra-base impact keep him rosterable, especially if your format weights doubles and homers. Bottom line: Thomas profiles as a strong OF3 with OF2 upside when the BABIP cooperates, and if he shaves a few points off the whiff, we’re talking a stable 25-30 HR bat who sticks in every lineup type.

Colby Thomas just sent one into orbit! His first MLB career homer!

406 feet of pure power#Athletics #AviatorsUp pic.twitter.com/QTIfnSzyLS

— Las Vegas Aviators (@AviatorsLV) August 7, 2025

Follow me on X: @ProspectsOnWes

FULL DAILY WRITE-UP PROSPECT LIST