Cody Thomas Wields Bedlam Bat Worthy of Big 12 Recognition

No one is happier these days that Cody Thomas is swinging a bat rather than slinging footballs than Oklahoma baseball coach Pete Hughes.

Oct 18, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Cody Thomas (14) throws during the first quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

The former Sooner quarterback last fall decided to give up football and his role as a reserve for a starting role in the OU baseball lineup. And the way things have turned out, Bob Stoops and the football team may have lost a quarterback, but Cody Thomas’ decision to put football aside and concentrate on just one sport has been a giant plus for Sooner baseball.

Thomas has been on a terror of late at the plate, and his performance over the weekend in Oklahoma’s series win in the Bedlam matchup with nationally ranked Oklahoma State earned him deserved recognition by the Big 12.

The junior outfielder/designated hitter, who is in his first full season playing baseball at Oklahoma, was named Big 12 Player of the Week. Thomas got the Sooners rolling in the opening game of the Oklahoma State series with a fourth-inning three-run home run and later added a two-run double, completing a two-for-five game at the plate, with five RBI and two runs scored.

He also had a big day in Sunday’s series finale, contributing to the Sooners’ 3-1 win. Thomas went two-for-three, including a two-out triple in the top of the first inning.

For the three-game series, Thomas batted .417 (5 for 12) with a .500 on-base percentage and .917 slugging percentage. His home run on Friday was his sixth of the season, third best on the team. His five hits (a home run, triple, double and two singles) produced seven runs, and he scored four times in the series.

Thomas is hitting .304 for the season, but since April, he has 20 hits in 44 plate appearances for a robust average of .455, with 4 home runs and 15 RBI during that span.

This was Oklahoma’s first Big 12 Player of the Week award this season. The Sooners’ Alec Hansen was the Pitcher of the Week a week ago. Those two weekly baseball honors are the only two times a Sooner has been honored by the conference this season.

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