The Arizona Diamondbacks, in the wake of calling up No. 1 prospect Ryan Waldschmidt , made a curious roster decision on Friday. Rather than option outfielder Alek Thomas to the minor leagues, the D-backs chose to designate the 26-year-old for assignment. Thomas has one option remaining, and could have been sent down to Triple-A without any trouble. Diamondbacks DFA Alek Thomas Apr 19, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas against the Toronto Blue Jays at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Thomas' season had not been progressing in a positive direction . Though he had a high-quality spring training, the 26-year-old had been hitting just .181/.222/.340 through the first portion of the 2026 season, despite showing some promise in the early going. "He is a tremendously talented player, and he's a great kid ,and he works his butt off.…