Photo by: Getty Images
USC Baseball Alum Rhylan Thomas Makes MLB Debut With Mariners
May 03, 2025 | Baseball
ARLINGTON, Texas – USC baseball alum Rhylan Thomas made his Major League debut with the Seattle Mariners on Friday in Texas, becoming the 120th Trojan to play in the MLB.
Thomas, who was called up by the Mariners on Wednesday, got the start in right field and finished the game 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI.
The Trojan alum picked up his first career hit in his second at bat of the game, doubling down the line in the fifth and later scoring on a home run. Thomas came up again later in the inning and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. His second RBI came on a groundout in the ninth.
Thomas played at USC from 2020-22, finishing his collegiate career with a .335 batting average, 78 runs scored and 54 RBI in 117 games. His best year came in 2022, when he hit .363 with 10 doubles, two homers and one triple, posting 35 runs scored and 23 RBI. A standout centerfielder throughout his career at USC, Thomas was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2022.
Thomas was selected in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. While in the Mets system, he progressed to the Double-A level by the end of 2023 and reached Tiple-A in 2024 before being traded to the Mariners on July 26, 2024. Thomas played 26 games with Triple-A Tacoma Raniers before being called up by Seattle earlier this week.
Through four minor league seasons, Thomas appeared in 254 games, batting .300 with 141 runs scored, 84 RBI, 43 RBI, 10 home runs and two triples.
USC's 120 MLB alums are tied for the most of any NCAA program. Trojan alums boast 67 All-Star appearances, 29 World Series appearances, nine Cy Young awards, three Hall of Fame inductions, three Rookie of the Year Awards, one American League MVP and one World Series MVP.
Thomas, who was called up by the Mariners on Wednesday, got the start in right field and finished the game 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI.
The Trojan alum picked up his first career hit in his second at bat of the game, doubling down the line in the fifth and later scoring on a home run. Thomas came up again later in the inning and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. His second RBI came on a groundout in the ninth.
Thomas played at USC from 2020-22, finishing his collegiate career with a .335 batting average, 78 runs scored and 54 RBI in 117 games. His best year came in 2022, when he hit .363 with 10 doubles, two homers and one triple, posting 35 runs scored and 23 RBI. A standout centerfielder throughout his career at USC, Thomas was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2022.
Thomas was selected in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. While in the Mets system, he progressed to the Double-A level by the end of 2023 and reached Tiple-A in 2024 before being traded to the Mariners on July 26, 2024. Thomas played 26 games with Triple-A Tacoma Raniers before being called up by Seattle earlier this week.
Through four minor league seasons, Thomas appeared in 254 games, batting .300 with 141 runs scored, 84 RBI, 43 RBI, 10 home runs and two triples.
USC's 120 MLB alums are tied for the most of any NCAA program. Trojan alums boast 67 All-Star appearances, 29 World Series appearances, nine Cy Young awards, three Hall of Fame inductions, three Rookie of the Year Awards, one American League MVP and one World Series MVP.
There it is 🙌
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 3, 2025
Rhylan Thomas connects on his first MLB hit! #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/28nRrej4lg
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs OSU, NCAA Regional Round)
Monday, June 02
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs SMC, NCAA Regional Round)
Saturday, May 31
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs TCU, NCAA Regional Opener)
Friday, May 30
Baseball - USC 10, Washington 4: Highlights (05/17/25)
Saturday, May 17
