Rookie Clete Thomas is living every young ballplayer’s dream.
        Major league uniform, major league locker room, major league meal money ($89 a day on the road) -- and, most enchanting of all: A .500 big league batting average.
        No wonder the kid is walking around the clubhouse on Cloud Nine.
        Thomas hopes this is just the beginning of what could be a long and productive career.
        Cut during spring training, then recalled after Curtis Granderson busted his finger, the 24-year-old outfielder had never even owned a sport coat in his life until Jim Leyland suggested he buy one, just in case, during the final week of training camp.
        Big leaguers, after all, don’t travel in T-shirts and jeans.
        “I love the kid, I love him a lot, and I’m not afraid to play him,” Leyland said. “He can fly and he’s got one of the best arms in baseball.”
        Thomas understands his days in the majors are probably numbered --  for now. But he has made his presence known -- to Tiger fans, and, more importantly, to Leyland and the Tigers’ organization.
        As soon as Granderson’s hand heals, Thomas will probably be Toledo-bound.
        Even now, with Miguel Cabrera and Gary Sheffield back in the lineup, Thomas finds himself sitting on the bench as Brandon Inge patrols centerfield
        “Somebody said I should put him in left field in place of Jacque Jones. But look at Jacque Jones’ track record,” Leyland pointed out.
        Jones is a career .280 hitter after nine years in the big leagues. Thomas, who played at Double-A Erie last season has four games under his belt.
        But what a heady four games they have been.