Julian “Rainmaker” Thomas joins the Duluth Staff

February 26th, 2035
Suwon, Republic of South Korea

Officials at Warrior Hall confirmed this week that five-time PEBA All-Star Julian Thomas was selected as the new Pitching Coach of the Suwon Morning Swords (R).

Thomas, who accumulated apx. 30 WAR for Duluth in 7 seasons, was drafted by the New Jersey Hitmen in 2015 out of Rutgers University.  The South Bend, Indiana native is still the all-time pitching WAR record holder at Rutgers.  After three short and unsuccessful years in the Minors, Thomas was called up by New Jersey in 2017 and saw full-time duty in 2018.  He would develop into a dangerous strikeout lefty for the Hitmen, leading PEBA in K/9 in both 2020 and 2021.

Thomas was traded to Duluth from New Jersey in 2021 as part of a blockbuster winter exchange, shipping a first rounder for the Rainmaker and Closer Julio “Tapper” Gonzalez.

Thomas went on to serve seven seasons on the Duluth staff, with a franchise-average ERA of 2.93 and a ERA+ of 135.  Four of his five all-star appearances were in the emerald pinstripes, and he pitched the final game of Duluth’s only Rodriguez Cup.

The end of Thomas’s expensive extension was a news item in GM Ricky McCoy’s inaugural 2028 season, where Thomas failed to meet his vesting requirement and left the team a season early.  Apparently, that hatchet was buried between Thomas and McCoy–as the 41-year old former star is already in Suwon preparing his young pitchers for the 2035 rookie ball season.