The St. Louis Cardinals continued building depth on Day 2 of the 2026 MLB Draft by selecting outfielder Matthew Thomas from Cal State Northridge with the 384th overall pick in the 13th round. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed hitter brings plus raw power and a breakout collegiate season to an organization always in search of impact bats who can develop into everyday contributors.
Thomas, nicknamed “Chewy,” enjoyed a standout junior campaign after transferring from the University of California-Berkeley. He earned All-Big West First Team honors, leading the Matadors with a .335 batting average, 1.090 OPS, 70 hits, 47 runs scored, 22 walks, and 142 total bases over 53 games. He tied for the conference lead with 21 doubles (T-28th nationally) and posted a robust .679 slugging percentage. Thomas also contributed 15 home runs and 44 RBI, showcasing the kind of middle-of-the-order thump that caught the Cardinals’ eye.
A native of Garden Grove, California, Thomas played football at Cypress High School before focusing on baseball. He is the son of Stephanie and Milton Thomas; his father played football at San Diego State, and his older brother Anthony played baseball at Colorado Christian University.
Scouting reports highlight Thomas as one of the more intriguing mid-major bats in the class. He generates plus raw power with exit velocities consistently exceeding 110 mph and an excellent feel for lifting the ball. His barrel rates stand out, and he showed meaningful improvements in consistency and bat-to-ball skills during his 2026 season at CSUN. While he can expand the strike zone at times and has some swing-and-miss in his game, evaluators project him as a corner outfielder with solid average speed.
“Thomas is hitting the ball harder, and he’s hitting the ball harder with more consistency in 2026,” one scouting outlet noted, underscoring the upward trajectory that made him a Day 2 target.
Prior to his dominant year with the Matadors, Thomas spent two seasons at Cal, where playing time was limited. His move to Northridge unlocked his potential; he started all 53 games, recorded 19 multi-hit games, and became just the third Matador since 2010 to post a 40-40 season in runs and RBI. His 21 doubles marked the most by a Matador in a single season since Adam Kennedy in 1997.
The Cardinals have a solid track record of developing college position players, particularly those with power profiles. Thomas joins a draft class heavy on pitching but gains an opportunity in a system that values athletic outfielders who can grow into run producers. Signing scout Mike Garciaparra tabbed the California product.
For Thomas, the selection caps a memorable journey from high school multi-sport athlete to professional prospect. As the Cardinals look to infuse their minor league system with more offensive upside, the lanky outfielder with the big bat and football background represents an intriguing addition who could surprise if he translates his raw tools and improved approach into sustained production.
Welcome to the Cardinal Way, Chewy.
