Astros claim outfield depth off waivers from the Angels

The Astros claimed outfielder Dillon Thomas off waivers from the Angels on Wednesday, optioning him to Triple-A Sugar Land.

After sending Jeremy Peña to the 10-day injured list and recalling J.J. Matijevic, the Houston Astros were left without a healthy position player in the minors on the 40-man roster. Dillon Thomas was claimed prior to Wednesday contest off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.

As a corresponding move, Jake Meyers was transfered to 60-day injured list which doesn’t alter his current rehab assignment that ends June 22. He and Taylor Jones are excluded from the 40-man roster, while the roster will change again by the end of June.

Thomas was designated for assignment Saturday, following only four plate appearances in the big leagues. This season, the 29-year-old has played most of his Triple-A innings in right field with a sprinkle of play in left field and center field.

Through 176 at-bats with Triple-A Salt Lake, the lefty slashed .295/.398/.489 with eight home runs and 10 doubles. The native Houstonian and Westbury Christian graduate starts a stint in his sixth major-league system.

Along with the Angels and the Astros, he has played for the Colorado Rockies, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Oakland A’s and the Seattle Mariners either in the majors or the minors.

Last season, as a member of the Tacoma Rainers, Thomas was in the visiting dugout against Triple-A Sugar Land. He signed autographs down the right-field line and is now a member of the club he faced in early July of 2021.

The Astros now have one active depth piece on the 40-man roster in Thomas who has one option year left after the 2022 season. With Meyers and Jones expected to join the 40-man by June 22, lefties Blake Taylor and Parker Mushinski could be on the block for the 60-day injured list to open a roster seat.