Garrett Thomas '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Garrett Thomas and I am 5'9" 190 pounds. I am a freshman at Artesia High School in Artesia, NM. I have played baseball since I was 5 years old. I was never a standout player until 4^th grade. When I was in 4^th grade, playing 10U baseball, I had two league coaches who believed in me and took time to show me that I could be a standout player. Since that season, I have been playing competitive baseball and have not stopped. I love competing on the diamond. In seventh grade I started building more muscle and getting faster and stronger. My travel coaches have always had me at third base mostly because of my size and strength compared to the other kids that I've played with through my baseball career. The main positions I play are third base, pitcher and catcher. I started playing catcher when I was 13 because the coach I was playing for at the time, Ed Henry, needed another catcher. I was willing to step up and play a position I had not played since I was 8 years old. Since that time, I have really enjoyed playing catcher.

Recently I was playing with New Mexico School of Baseball and was playing on 16U and 18U teams. We played many tournaments in Phoenix, Arizona, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Las Cruces, New Mexico. I was able to pitch against 16U and 18U teams and was able to strike many older players out. For the most part I have been able to muscle my fastball past the kids I've faced. I am really working on location as well as mixing up pitches and controlling them recently for pitching.

I am a leader on and off the field. I have taken Honors Math since the 6^th grade and plan on taking AP classes in high school. I am a member of the National Junior Honor Society and also play in my church worship band. I am a coachable player and am a leader on the field. I try my best to motivate my team on the field when things aren’t going the best that they can. I believe I can always learn something from each coach I come in contact with. I am always learning all that I can about baseball by watching instructional videos and then practicing those skills.

While playing baseball in college has always been a goal of mine, I know that my college education is the real goal in college. I would like to attend college to become an accountant or an engineer. I have a lot to offer a college coach. I am dedicated to the game, dedicated to practicing and doing whatever it takes to be the best player I can be.