An Interview with Lane Thomas, Washington Nationals’ Outfielder

by

For some professional athletes, one moment or day can define a career. That’s especially true for Washington Nationals’ outfielder Lane Thomas.

After playing inconsistently with the St. Louis Cardinals across three seasons—which included batting .172 in 122 plate appearances—Thomas got the break he needed when he was traded to the Nationals on July 30, 2021.

“I definitely got more playing time with Washington,” Thomas explains. 

Thomas made the most of it. He established himself as a player the Nationals could count on. In 2021, he batted .270 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 178 plate appearances across 45 games.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Thomas put up respectable numbers the following year: a .241 batting average, 17 homers, 52 RBIs, and a .364 on-base percentage.

Things only got better in 2023 when he played at an All-Star level. Thomas hit 28 home runs, stole 20 bases, and produced 86 RBIs.

“He has been our quiet leader,” Nationals’ Manager Dave Martinez says. “It’s been easy to write his name in the lineup and know what I am going to get from him. He has improved his defense and has a really great arm. And offensively, he hit so many home runs last year.”

The 28-year-old Thomas, who will earn $2.2 million this year and is signed through next year, appreciates his opportunity with the Nationals. 

We recently talked to Thomas about his development, success with the Nationals, and how spending so much time with his father Mike at National Hot Rod Association races helped him in baseball—especially off the field. 

What was the key to having your best season in 2023?

I was just more consistent. I think it was just getting a chance to play every day with the Nationals. After I got traded, I definitely got more playing time. With the Cardinals, I didn’t get a chance to play that much. I didn’t swing the bat that well off the bench. I was getting one at bat every four days compared to getting four at bats every day or other day. The more at bats you get, the more comfortable you get. You get into more of a groove, and that really helped me out. You look up at the end of the season and you realize you had a pretty good one. It’s been really nice to get that chance. It’s hard to come by. A lot of guys don’t get that opportunity. 

 How do you build off that level of success?

You just try to get back to what got you those numbers. You try to build off the things you didn’t do as well. The hard part about the big leagues is that you have some success, and you want to stick to it, but to make sure you make strides in other parts of your game. You have to make sure you stay in top shape and prep your body for 160-plus games. 

How has your game progressed or developed as a hitter since you came to Washington?

We have a great group of coaches here and they have helped me in a lot of different ways. With hitting and base running, you have to keep polishing those tools, or you fall behind. You set goals for yourself. It’s baby steps. I just want to keep getting a little better.

With the Nationals in a rebuilding mode the past few seasons, the team has made a number of trades. Would you like to be here when the team is good again and long-term?

I have been here through hard times. After the club won the World Series (in 2019), I feel a lot of those guys aren’t here. We have had to start with a lot of those guys we got back in those trades, including myself. I got to see a lot of those guys grow and see myself grow. It would be cool to see it through.  

You have learned a lot by watching your dad drag racing. How has that helped you?

My dad is the most confident person I know. He instilled the confidence in me to believe you are one of the best players on the field. You can at least put yourself in that conversation. I think that’s important to do because a lot of guys in this league are pretty good. To stay here, you have to be pretty good for a long time. If you don’t believe in yourself, that’s a hard thing to do.  

Did he help shape your career?

Absolutely. I learned to take it day by day. Some days just don’t go well in this league. Having the confidence to bounce back after a bad game is important.

How do you manage your down time during road trips? What do you do? What are your favorite cities and why?

I try to wake up early and get a good breakfast or walk around and check out a city. I really want to enjoy the off-the-field stuff. My favorites are the big cities—Chicago and New York. My wife, Chase, usually likes going on those road trips. It’s great to go out, walk around, check out the cool stuff in the city, and go to some restaurants if we have an off day.

What charities or causes do you devote your time to?

I do some baseball stuff in my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, with kids and the local high school. One of the guys I played against in high school, his dad had a facility. So, he would call a bunch of the pro baseball players in Tennessee that work out together. They would do some camps for kids, and I would go help them out. Also, I like going to children’s hospitals and I have gone a few times. It’s really cool. You bring smiles to their faces, or at least the parents. The kids know what is going on. You can really see the distress on the families’ faces. We have some hospital visits planned. I will keep doing those for sure.