Eric Thames

Eric Thames (born November 10, 1986) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder.^[1] Thames attended Pepperdine University before being selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh round of the 2008 MLB Draft.^[2] He made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in 2011, appearing in 95 games that season with a .262 batting average, 12 home runs, and 37 runs batted in.^[2] In 2012, he split time between the Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners, batting .232 overall in 86 games with nine home runs.^[1] After being outrighted off the Mariners' roster and spending 2013 in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system without returning to the majors, Thames signed with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2014.^[2] His KBO tenure marked a career resurgence; in 2014, he hit .343 with 37 home runs and 121 RBIs in 134 games.^[2] The following year, Thames earned KBO MVP honors after posting a .381 batting average, 47 home runs, 140 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases, becoming the league's first player to achieve a 40-40 season (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases).^[2] This success prompted his return to MLB, where he signed a three-year, $16 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of the 2017 season.^[2] With the Brewers from 2017 to 2019, Thames batted .247 across 429 games, hitting 72 home runs—including 31 in 2017—and helping the team reach the playoffs in 2018 and 2019.^[1] He appeared in one postseason game during the 2019 National League Wild Card, going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run.^[1] Thames' final MLB stint came with the Washington Nationals in 2020, where he played 41 games and batted .203 with three home runs amid the shortened COVID-19 season.^[1] After brief stops in the Baltimore Orioles' minor leagues in 2021, Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yomiuri Giants in 2021, and the Oakland Athletics' minor leagues in 2022, Thames retired from professional baseball.^[2] Over his six MLB seasons, he compiled a .241 batting average, 96 home runs, 235 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 605 games.^[1]

Early life and amateur career

Early life

Eric Thames was born on November 10, 1986, in Santa Clara, California.^[3] He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily in the San Jose-Santa Clara region, where his family supported his early athletic development.^[4] At age 12, after striking out in a Pony League game, Thames caught the attention of coach Joe Bettencourt, who began providing him with intensive training sessions that he prioritized over social activities.^[5] Thames' childhood was marked by a singular focus on baseball, often running miles to his coach's home for hitting lessons and forgoing typical youthful pursuits to hone his skills.^[5] He formed a close bond with Bettencourt's younger son, Trevor, treating him like a brother during their shared time around the sport. Thames attended Bellarmine College Preparatory, a Jesuit high school in San Jose, California, graduating in 2004.^[4] There, he joined the varsity baseball team in his junior year, earning All-League honors for two seasons and being named team MVP in his senior year.^[6]

College and draft

Thames attended Cabrillo College in 2005 but did not play baseball there. He then transferred to West Valley College, where in 2006 he batted .376 with a .667 slugging percentage, earning All-Conference honors.^[2] Following that season, he transferred to Pepperdine University, playing for the Pepperdine Waves baseball team during his junior and senior seasons from 2007 to 2008.^[7] In 2007, as a designated hitter, he batted .320 with 44 RBIs over 53 games, contributing to the team's efforts in the West Coast Conference (WCC).^[8] His senior year in 2008 marked a breakout performance, where he hit .407 with 13 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 58 runs scored in 49 games, leading the Waves in multiple offensive categories.^[8] During his time at Pepperdine, Thames earned significant WCC recognition, including Player of the Week honors twice in 2008 for his strong weekend performances against conference opponents.^[9][10] He was unanimously selected as the 2008 WCC Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Conference honors, leading the league in batting average (.529 in conference play), home runs (8), runs scored (25), and on-base percentage.^[11][12] Following his standout college season, Thames was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh round (219th overall) of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft.^[1] He signed a professional contract with the Blue Jays for a $150,000 signing bonus and was assigned to their minor league system, beginning his professional career in the Gulf Coast League the following year.^[13][14]

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays

After being selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of Pepperdine University, Thames missed his entire first professional season due to a quadriceps injury sustained late in his college campaign.^[15][16] Thames began his minor league career in 2009 with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, where he hit .286 in seven games before a brief rehab assignment, then advanced to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League, posting a .313 batting average with three home runs and 38 RBIs over 52 games.^[17] In 2010, he progressed to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Eastern League, enjoying a breakout season with a .288 average, 27 home runs, and 104 RBIs in 130 games, establishing himself as a power-hitting outfield prospect.^[17] Promoted to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League in 2011, Thames excelled early with a .352 average, seven home runs, and 45 RBIs in 53 games, earning recognition as the 15th-ranked prospect in the PCL.^[17][13] The Blue Jays called up Thames on May 17, 2011, and he made his MLB debut the following day against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre, starting in left field as a first baseman/outfielder.^[7][1] In his rookie 2011 season, Thames appeared in 95 games primarily as an outfielder, batting .262 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs, while providing utility versatility across left field and right field.^[1] He was optioned and recalled multiple times that year, including a stint back to Las Vegas in early June before rejoining the major league roster.^[18] Thames returned for the 2012 season as a utility player, seeing action in 46 games with a .243 batting average, three home runs, and 11 RBIs, mainly in left field.^[19] On July 30, 2012, at the trade deadline, the Blue Jays traded him to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for relief pitcher Steve Delabar, ending his tenure with the organization after 141 major league games.^[20][21]

Seattle Mariners

On July 30, 2012, the Seattle Mariners acquired outfielder Eric Thames from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for relief pitcher Steve Delabar, providing the Mariners with additional outfield depth amid a rebuilding phase.^[22] Thames appeared in 40 games for Seattle during the remainder of the 2012 season, primarily serving as a bench player and utility outfielder, where he batted .220 with six home runs and 14 RBI in 123 at-bats.^[1][23] His role emphasized platoon options and late-inning substitutions, contributing to a young lineup focused on development rather than contention.^[23] Entering the 2013 season, Thames spent the majority of his time in Triple-A with the Tacoma Rainiers, batting .295 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 57 games as an outfield depth prospect.^[17] On June 22, 2013, the Mariners designated him for assignment to clear roster space, and he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on June 30 in exchange for minor league infielder Ty Kelly, concluding his affiliation with Seattle.^[24]

Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and NC Dinos

Thames was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on June 30, 2013, in exchange for minor league infielder Ty Kelly.^[24] He was immediately optioned to the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides of the International League, where he appeared in 36 games, batting .252 with three home runs and 13 RBIs.^[17] On September 1, 2013, the Orioles designated Thames for assignment to clear roster space.^[7] Thames was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros on September 5, 2013, but he did not appear in any games for the organization during the remainder of the season.^[2] The Astros released him on December 9, 2013, concluding his brief stint in the Houston organization without any on-field contribution.^[18] Seeking a fresh start amid ongoing challenges in securing consistent playing time in Major League Baseball, Thames signed a one-year contract with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for the 2014 season, reportedly for $250,000. Thames quickly revitalized his career in the KBO, posting a .343 batting average with 37 home runs, 121 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 125 games during the 2014 season, helping the expansion NC Dinos finish third in the league standings and contributing 6.14 WAR according to Statiz metrics.^[17][25] In 2015, he achieved historic dominance, becoming the first player in KBO history to record a 40-40 season with a .381 average, 47 home runs, 140 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases over 142 games; these efforts earned him the league's Most Valuable Player Award and the Golden Glove Award at first base.^[17][26] His performance powered the Dinos to the regular-season title with a 78-64-1 record, though they fell in the playoffs.^[27] Thames remained a cornerstone for the Dinos in 2016, slashing .321/.427/.679 with 40 home runs, 121 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases in 123 games, once again driving the team to a strong 74-68-1 record and a playoff appearance despite a semifinal loss to the Doosan Bears.^[17][27] Over his three seasons with the club, Thames amassed 124 home runs and became a fan favorite in South Korea, boosting attendance and popularity for the relatively new franchise through his power-speed combination and engaging personality.^[28][29]

Milwaukee Brewers

After a successful stint in the Korea Baseball Organization, where he posted impressive power numbers, Eric Thames signed a three-year, $16 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on November 29, 2016, including a $7.5 million club option for 2020.^[30][31] Thames enjoyed a breakout 2017 season in his return to Major League Baseball, batting .247 with 31 home runs and 63 RBIs over 138 games while splitting time between first base and left field.^[1] His early-season surge included a franchise-record 11 home runs in April, helping propel the Brewers to an 86-76 record and a second-place finish in the National League Central, just one game shy of a wild card spot.^[32][33] The following seasons were marred by injuries that limited his production and playing time. In 2018, Thames batted .219 with 16 home runs in 96 games, sidelined by a torn UCL in his left thumb that required surgery and a six-week stint on the injured list starting April 25, along with hamstring and other minor ailments.^[1] He rebounded somewhat in 2019, hitting .247 with 25 home runs across 149 games and reclaiming a starting role at first base, though late-season hamstring cramps briefly affected him.^[1] Following the 2019 season, the Brewers declined Thames' $7.5 million club option on November 4, making him a free agent and ending his tenure with the team.^[34]

Washington Nationals, Yomiuri Giants, and Oakland Athletics

On January 6, 2020, Eric Thames signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Washington Nationals, which included a $4 million mutual option for 2021 and a $1 million buyout.^[35] Thames appeared in 41 games during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, primarily at first base and as a designated hitter, batting .203 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI over 123 at-bats.^[1] The Nationals declined his 2021 option on October 28, 2020, making him a free agent.^[36] After the Nationals declined his option, Thames signed a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball on December 30, 2020.^[18] His tenure was cut short by injury; in his NPB debut on April 27, 2021, Thames suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon while fielding a fly ball in left field, limiting him to one game where he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.^[7] The Giants released him on October 5, 2021, after the injury sidelined him for the entire season.^[37] Thames attempted a return to Major League Baseball by signing a minor-league contract with the Oakland Athletics on February 9, 2022, with an invitation to spring training.^[7] During spring training, he batted .227 with 1 home run in 11 games but did not earn a spot on the Opening Day roster and was assigned to the Triple-A [Las Vegas Aviators](/page/Las Vegas_Aviators).^[38] The Athletics released him on May 10, 2022, without any MLB appearances that year.^[18] These final stints highlighted Thames' challenges with injuries and age-related decline at 35, as persistent physical issues prevented consistent play and contributed to the end of his professional career.^[39] Thames announced his retirement from professional baseball on February 16, 2023.^[40]

Personal life and legacy

Personal life

Eric Thames has experienced significant relocations throughout his career, most notably his time in South Korea from 2014 to 2016 with the NC Dinos, where he fully immersed himself in local culture by learning basic Korean phrases and participating in fan traditions such as singing his team's cheer song in Korean.^[41] This period of living abroad fostered a deep appreciation for Korean customs and cuisine, which he has often described as transformative in interviews.^[42] In April 2016, in recognition of his popularity and contributions to the community, Thames was awarded honorary citizenship by the city of Changwon, the home of the NC Dinos' stadium, marking one of the rare instances of such an honor for a foreign athlete in the region.^[4] Following his retirement from professional baseball in 2023, Thames has pursued interests in fitness and wellness, with a particular emphasis on yoga as a means to maintain physical flexibility and mental balance. He began incorporating yoga into his routine during his playing days to address injury concerns, favoring yin yoga for its extended poses that promote relaxation and recovery.^[43] Thames has shared that this practice not only enhanced his athletic performance but also became a personal hobby for overall well-being.^[44] In terms of community involvement, Thames serves as a trustee for the Argent Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting youth through sports and equipment drives. In February 2025, he participated in a foundation-hosted event featuring a meet-and-greet and donation drive, highlighting his commitment to giving back to aspiring athletes.^[45]

Achievements and impact

Eric Thames achieved significant recognition during his tenure in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), where he was named the 2015 Most Valuable Player after leading the league with a .381 batting average, 47 home runs, and 140 RBIs, becoming the first foreign player to win the award since 2007.^[46] That same year, he earned the Golden Glove Award at first base, the first for a foreign player in that position, highlighting his defensive prowess alongside his offensive dominance.^[26] In 2015, Thames also made history as the first KBO player to record a 40-40 season, hitting 47 home runs and stealing 40 bases, a milestone that underscored his rare combination of power and speed.^[27] Over his three seasons with the NC Dinos in the KBO from 2014 to 2016, Thames established himself as a dominant force, batting .349 with 124 home runs and 382 RBIs in 390 games, contributing significantly to the team's playoff appearances and overall competitiveness.^[47] In Major League Baseball (MLB), across six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Nationals from 2011 to 2020, he compiled a .241 batting average, 96 home runs, and 235 RBIs in 605 games, with his 2017 performance—marked by 31 home runs and a .248 average—playing a key role in the Brewers' 86-76 record and wild card contention.^[1] Thames' career trajectory had a notable impact on baseball's international landscape, as his revival in the KBO—where he hit 124 home runs after limited MLB success—demonstrated the potential for players to regain form abroad and return to the majors, inspiring greater interest from MLB scouts in KBO talent and facilitating player mobility between leagues.^[27] His journey encouraged subsequent transitions, such as those of players like Ha-Seong Kim, by proving that KBO experience could translate to MLB opportunities.^[48] On February 16, 2023, Thames announced his retirement via Instagram, reflecting on a 14-year professional career that spanned multiple continents and emphasized personal growth through perseverance.^[40] Thames' legacy endures through his contributions to team successes, including bolstering the NC Dinos' offensive output during their formative years and providing the Brewers with a potent left-handed bat during their 2017 resurgence, while his story continues to symbolize the benefits of international baseball exposure.^[25]