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Isaiah Thomas leaves the Vanderbilt baseball team

 Chris Lee   in Baseball

Vanderbilt's second-team All-SEC right fielder won't be back for 2022.

Isaiah Thomas photo courtesy of Vanderbilt athletics.

Isaiah Thomas, who was expected to be a middle-of-the-order hitter and Vanderbilt's starting right fielder, announced on his Instagram on Monday that he has left the team

"After years of relationships, [Vanderbilt] chose their beliefs over the well-being of mental health and took advantage of that sensitive part of my life,” Thomas said in his cryptic post. “That is all there is to share se14_prodly at the moment."

A Vanderbilt spokesperson also confirmed to The 14 that Thomas is no longer part of the team. 

Thomas hit .303/.357/.585 with 13 home runs and 12 stolen bases last year, but slumped late and was benched for a game in the College World Series amidst erratic play. He went just 2-for-23 in the CWS.

Thomas, considered a top-200 overall prospect for the 2021 MLB Draft, surprisingly was not chosen in the event. 

Javier Vaz, Troy LaNeve, Spencer Jones and Jack Bulger are likely candidates to replace Thomas. Vaz (who spent time in right last year) ended the year as Vandy's starting left fielder, a job that LaNeve and Bulger each held at various points of the season. 

Jones, who was one of Vandy's left-handed DH options last year played outfield as a freshman, but an arm injury left him unable to throw last season. 

Thomas was ranked the No. 142 player in the high school Class of 2018 by Perfect Game