Dallas Tigers Polk LHP Jared Thomas talks Texas after dazzling in summer debut

By Brenna Barkley 

For Dallas Tigers Polk left-handed pitcher Jared Thomas, committing to the University of Texas was something that he always dreamed about. 

“Just growing up I was always watching the guys in the burnt orange play and win a lot of baseball games,” Thomas told Five Tool after his first game at the Five Tool Texas DFW Kickoff. “When they got to recruiting me, just being recruited by my dream school, it was really hard to turn that down.”

Thomas, the 2022 LHP/1B out of Waxahachie (TX), still has a year to go in high school until he gets to play for the Longhorns. Before he gets to turning his dream into a reality of wearing the burnt orange, the lefty is looking to continue his success this summer with Dallas Tigers Polk.

Thomas went four no-hit innings on Thursday with seven strikeouts and no runs allowed getting the win.

“My start today went pretty well. I felt really good on the mound,” Thomas said. “The fastball had a lot more movement on it then I thought after my bullpen. I had really good control on my curveball and so those two went hand and hand and it ended up working really well.”

.@DTigerBaseball Polk’s Jared Thomas (@jaredthomas02) finishes his day going 4 no-hit innings with 7K and one walk. Lots of run on his fastball and has shown off a consistent curveball.

FB: 82-85
CB: 70-72

Waxahachie (TX) 2022 • @TexasBaseball commit https://t.co/iEiZhItxIz pic.twitter.com/yLe3VHFfwi

— ?Five Tool Texas? (@FiveToolTexas) May 28, 2021

The Longhorn commit also got it done at the plate as he was able to come up with a solid RBI double to extend his team’s lead late. Something that Thomas has seen in his game improve is his strength at the plate and hopes that is something that continues throughout summer and into his senior season at the high school level.

“Being able to produce runs myself and then go back on the mound and pitch a little bit helps me lock in,” Thomas said. 

Thomas knows that it can be beneficial to his game and to his teammates when he helps himself both at the plate and at the mound. His squad has three more games remaining this weekend in the first tournament of the year and Championship play on Monday.

Thomas looks to remain locked into the game as he prepares for the rest of the summer season.