Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas hopes swing changes lead to better results

Arizona outfielder makes adjustments to his swing in hopes of a breakout season

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas has made changes to his swing, moving away from a pronounced leg kick in favor of a simpler, more muted step. Thomas hopes the adjustments will help him recognize pitches better and cut down on chasing pitches, leading to more consistent results after struggling to maintain success over the past few seasons in the majors.

Why it matters

Thomas is entering a pivotal year in his career, as he is penciled in as the starting center fielder but could face competition from top prospect Jordan Lawlar, who is moving to the outfield. The Diamondbacks are also dealing with injuries to their starting outfielders, so Thomas will need to prove he can be a reliable everyday player.

The details

Thomas had been hesitant to make changes to his swing in the past, as the leg kick had led to some success, including a game-tying home run in the 2023 NLCS. However, the inconsistency of the swing led him to work with hitting coaches this offseason to implement a simpler approach. Through early spring training, Thomas says he is seeing pitches better and is more balanced at the plate.

  • Thomas arrived at Diamondbacks camp with the new swing adjustments.
  • In parts of four seasons in the majors, Thomas owns a .234/.277/.362 line.

The players

Alek Thomas

An Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder who is hoping changes to his swing will lead to better results in what could be a pivotal year in his career.

Jordan Lawlar

A former top prospect for the Diamondbacks who is moving to the outfield and could compete with Thomas for playing time.

Torey Lovullo

The manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks who is overseeing the team's spring training preparations.

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What they’re saying

“There was success with the leg kick, but it was never consistent — and it hasn't been consistent for the past four years. Talking with the hitting coaches and the people I work with, as well, it was, 'What can I do to get myself the best chance?' I just thought — and the hitting coaches thought — this would probably be the best thing to do.”

— Alek Thomas (azcentral.com)

“Now, I know what (Geraldo) Perdomo feels like when he's going from 0-2 all the way back to 3-2. Yeah, I definitely see it a lot longer and am able to recognize it a little bit better.”

— Alek Thomas (azcentral.com)

“It's going to work out the way it's supposed to. It took me four years to realize that I've got to change something, but I think change is good — it can be good. I'm really excited about what's to come for this season.”

— Alek Thomas (azcentral.com)

What’s next

Thomas will continue to work on his new swing during spring training as he looks to secure the starting center field job and prove he can be a reliable everyday player for the Diamondbacks.

The takeaway

Thomas' willingness to make adjustments to his swing shows his determination to take the next step in his career, and the Diamondbacks are hopeful the changes will help him become a more consistent and productive player at the major league level.