MLB Draft Pick Matthew Thomas Joins Champion’s Quest Alumni
It’s OFFICIAL! We have another MLB player as a Champion’s Quest alumnus.
Matthew “Chewy” Thomas has been selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
From Ballplayer Academy to the MLB Draft
Matthew began his development with our Ballplayer Academy when things were becoming stagnant with his college recruiting.
His development at Champion’s Quest focused on overall athletic development. To become a Division 1 collegiate player or MLB Draft pick, an outfielder needs elite physical tools. Outfielders need arm strength, reactive agility, change of direction speed, and high max-velocity speed to track down hard-hit balls.
Matthew had spent years developing his baseball skills, but his physical development became one of the catalysts for his future success.
A Different Path to the Draft
Matthew’s journey is a great reminder that development does not always happen on the same timeline.
He did not play varsity baseball until his junior year of high school. He did not receive a college scholarship until after his senior season. He was also cut from his college baseball program before finding his way to CSU Northridge for his third college season.
For a future MLB Draft pick, that path is anything but typical.
But Matthew and his family continued to believe in his potential.
Believe in the Athlete
After the draft, Matthew returned to our academy to thank our team and leave a message for our athletes.
His story can breathe life into many of the athletes we work with every day here in Los Alamitos, CA.
When I speak with many of our parents, I hear similar concerns:
“I don’t think my kid is good enough to play in college or get drafted.”
The MLB Draft may not be the reason your athlete comes to Champion’s Quest. But we know success can come from anywhere. The best thing our team and our families can do for these athletes is believe.
Believe in their goals. Give them opportunities to develop. Be consistent in their development.
Because we never know the ultimate potential of any athlete. We can only continue to believe, develop, and support them. As you can see from Chewy’s journey, there were plenty of opportunities for him and his family to stop believing. Instead, they remained hopeful and kept moving forward.
Congratulations, Chewy!
Congratulations to Matthew “Chewy” Thomas on being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2026 MLB Draft!
We are proud to call you a Champion’s Quest alumnus.
If you want to learn more about how your athlete can develop their physical tools and athletic performance, book a free evaluation with Champion’s Quest.
