The Mercer Bears turned a late deficit into a victory, powered by Thomas’s 8th Inning 3-run homer.
In a Saturday matchup between Mercer and SIUE (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville), the Bears found themselves trailing 6–2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. SIUE had played well to that point, stringing together timely hits and forcing Mercer to battle from behind. But the Bears’ lineup, known for its explosiveness, refused to fold and began to chip away.
In the bottom of the seventh, Angelo Dispigna ignited the rally with a two-run home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 6–4 and breathing life into Mercer’s dugout and OrthoGeorgia Park.
The momentum carried into the eighth inning when Le Bassett stepped up and delivered a two-run blast of his own, tying the game at 6–6. The comeback felt complete — or so it seemed — until Colby Thomas stepped to the plate and turned the afternoon into something unforgettable.
With two runners aboard, Thomas connected and sent a bomb soaring over the outfield wall. The three-run homer gave Mercer a 9–6 lead and capped a furious rally. The Bears would tack on one more run before closing out a 10–6 victory, sealing a memorable comeback.
That swing didn’t just win a game — it marked the beginning of a breakout season for Colby Thomas, an individual season that would live on in Mercer baseball lore.
Colby Thomas: From SoCon Star to MLB Prospect
The 2022 season became a showcase for Thomas’s all-around talent. He finished the year with a .325 batting average, a 1.185 OPS, 17 home runs, and a perfect 11-for-11 on stolen bases. His blend of power, speed, and consistency made him one of the most complete players in the Southern Conference.
Scouts took notice. When the 2022 MLB Draft arrived, Thomas was selected in the third round by the Oakland Athletics, a testament to his production and potential. Over the next two seasons, he climbed the minor league ladder with impressive speed, earning recognition as one of the A’s most promising young players.
By 2025, MLB Pipeline ranked Thomas as the No. 2 overall prospect in the Oakland organization. On June 30, 2025, at 24 years old, he made his Major League debut as a pinch-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Thomas’s rookie campaign showed flashes of what’s to come. He finished with a .225/.267/.417 slash line and six home runs in 49 games, numbers that hinted at his developing power and adaptability at the highest level.
Mercer Baseball and the SoCon Legacy
Mercer’s comeback win over SIUE was more than just a thrilling afternoon — it was a glimpse of what was to come. In 2022, Colby Thomas flashed the tools that would propel him on his journey from SoCon standout to MLB prospect. His rise underscores how the Southern Conference continues to send its stars to the next level, producing athletes who carry the league’s competitiveness into professional baseball.
As the 2026 spring training season unfolds, fans can follow Thomas and other Mercer alumni through Mercer at the Professional Level: A Program Snapshot, which tracks former Bears making their mark in the pros. These stories connect the conference’s past and present, celebrating the athletes who embody the SoCon’s proud baseball heritage.
The Point After
On February 26, 2022, Colby Thomas’s three-run homer didn’t merely seal a comeback — it symbolized the spirit of SoCon baseball: resilience, confidence, and the ability to rise when the moment demands it.
