Eric Thames facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eric Thames |
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Thames with the Washington Nationals in 2020
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| First baseman / Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 10, 1986 Santa Clara, California, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: May 18, 2011, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| KBO: April 1, 2014, for the NC Dinos | |||
| NPB: April 27, 2021, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| KBO: September 29, 2016, for the NC Dinos | |||
| MLB: September 24, 2020, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| NPB: April 27, 2021, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .241 | ||
| Home runs | 96 | ||
| Runs batted in | 235 | ||
| KBO statistics | |||
| Batting average | .349 | ||
| Home runs | 124 | ||
| Runs batted in | 382 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .000 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 0 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Eric Allyn Thames, born on November 10, 1986, is a former professional baseball player from America. He played as a first baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Nationals. He also played in the KBO League for the NC Dinos and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.
Thames played college baseball for the Pepperdine Waves. The Blue Jays chose him in the 2008 MLB draft. He started playing in MLB for Toronto in 2011. Later, he was traded to the Mariners in 2012. After playing in Minor League Baseball in 2013, he joined the NC Dinos in 2014. He was named the Most Valuable Player in 2015. He then returned to MLB, signing with the Brewers in 2017.
Early Life and Baseball Start
Eric Thames grew up in the Santa Clara area of California. He went to Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose. When he was a freshman, he played junior varsity baseball as a shortstop. He became the main shortstop in his second year. Then, he joined the varsity team in his junior year. He was an All-League player for two years. He was also named the team's MVP in his senior year (2004).
After high school, Thames went to West Valley Community College. He had previously spent a year at Cabrillo College in 2005. In 2006, Thames was part of the Northern California all-state team. He also made the first team all-conference squad. After that, Thames moved to Pepperdine University. He played for the Pepperdine Waves there.
The New York Yankees picked Thames in the 2007 MLB draft. He was the 1,191st player chosen overall. But he decided to stay at Pepperdine for the 2008 season. In 2008, Thames had a great year. He hit for a .407 batting average and hit 13 home runs. He was named the West Coast Conference's most valuable player. Towards the end of that season, he hurt his leg. He tore a quadriceps muscle during a game.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Blue Jays
Because of his leg injury, Eric Thames was picked later in the 2008 MLB draft. He was expected to be chosen in the first three rounds. But the Toronto Blue Jays picked him in the seventh round. He was the 219th player chosen overall. Thames signed with the Blue Jays and had surgery to fix his muscle.
He began his professional career in 2009. He played for the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. He hit .313 with three home runs and 38 runs batted in (RBIs) in 52 games. His playing time was limited because of his leg injury. He also played some recovery games for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays.
Thames spent the 2010 season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. This team is in the Class AA Eastern League. He hit 27 home runs for the Fisher Cats and had 104 RBIs. He started the 2011 season with the Las Vegas 51s. This team is in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL). In 32 games for Las Vegas, Thames hit .342 with six home runs and 30 RBIs.
Thames made his MLB debut on May 18, 2011. This was against the Tampa Bay Rays. He got his first career hit and RBI in that game. He drove in second baseman Aaron Hill. Thames also got his first career walk and run scored in that game. He hit his first career double against the Houston Astros on May 21.
On June 3, Thames was sent back to Las Vegas. This was to make room for Adam Lind to return. On June 23, he was called back to Toronto. On June 29, Thames hit his first career home run. It was off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm. Thames played 95 games for the Blue Jays in 2011. He finished with a .262 batting average, 12 home runs, and 37 RBIs.
The Blue Jays had Thames and Travis Snider compete for a spot in 2012. Thames made the Blue Jays' Opening Day team. He played in 46 games for the Blue Jays. He hit .243 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. The Blue Jays then sent Thames to Las Vegas. He hit .330 for Las Vegas after being sent down.
Time with the Seattle Mariners
On July 31, 2012, the Blue Jays traded Thames to the Seattle Mariners. They traded him for pitcher Steve Delabar. He hit .220 in 40 games for the Mariners.
Before the 2013 season, the Mariners signed outfielders Raúl Ibañez and Jason Bay. The team sent Thames to the Tacoma Rainiers in the PCL during spring training. He hit .295 in 57 games for Tacoma. On June 22, the Mariners removed Thames from their main roster. This was to make room for Franklin Gutiérrez to return.
Brief Stays with Orioles and Astros
The Mariners traded Thames to the Baltimore Orioles on June 30, 2013. They got minor league player Ty Kelly in return. Thames was immediately sent to the Norfolk Tides. This team is in the Class AAA International League. He hit .252 with three home runs and 13 RBIs for the Tides. He was removed from the roster again on September 1.
The Houston Astros then claimed Thames on September 5. This means they picked him up after he was removed from the Orioles' roster. He played for the Oklahoma City Redhawks in the PCL the next day. He had two hits, including a home run, in four tries. Oklahoma City lost that game and was out of the playoffs.
Success in the KBO League
After the 2013 season, Thames played in the Venezuelan Winter League. There, the NC Dinos from the KBO League in South Korea noticed him. The Astros let Thames go so he could sign with the Dinos. He signed a one-year contract for $800,000.
In the 2014 season, Thames had a great year. He hit .343 with 37 home runs and 121 RBIs. His on-base plus slugging (OPS) was 1.111, which is very good.
During the 2015 season, Thames made history. He became the first player in KBO history to hit for the cycle twice in one season. Hitting for the cycle means getting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. Thames then signed a two-year contract to stay with the Dinos. He hit .381 with 47 home runs and 40 stolen bases in 2015. He was the first KBO player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in one season.
On November 24, 2015, Thames won the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award. He was the third foreign-born player to win this award. Thames also won the 2015 KBO Golden Glove Award for first basemen. In the 2016 season, Thames hit .321. He also added 40 home runs and 121 RBIs.
Return to MLB with the Brewers
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On November 29, 2016, Thames signed a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The deal was worth $16 million. It also included an option for a fourth year.
On April 3, 2017, Thames was the starting first baseman for the Brewers. This was on Opening Day against the Colorado Rockies. He got one hit in four tries. He hit a two-run double in the fifth inning. He also set a new Brewers record for home runs in April. He hit his 11th home run on April 25. This was in a 9-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds.
In April 2018, the Brewers won two games in a row against the Cincinnati Reds. Thames hit a two-run home run in both games to win them. In his first 22 games, Thames hit seven home runs. On April 25, he was placed on the disabled list. This was because he tore a ligament in his left thumb. Thames came back to the Brewers on June 11. But because another first baseman, Jesús Aguilar, was playing very well, Thames mostly played as an outfielder.
Thames started 2019 as a player who came off the bench for the Brewers. He later took back the starting first base job from Aguilar. He hit .247 with 25 home runs in 149 games. In the 2019 National League Wild Card Game, Thames got two hits in four tries. He hit a solo home run in the second inning. However, the Brewers lost the game and were out of the playoffs. The Brewers decided not to use their option for his 2020 season. This made Thames a free agent.
Playing for the Washington Nationals
On January 8, 2020, Thames signed with the Washington Nationals for the 2020 season. It was a one-year deal.
Ryan Zimmerman decided not to play in the 2020 season. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, Thames became the team's starting first baseman. Thames had a tough time in this role. He hit .203 with only three home runs. His OPS+ was 65, which is below average.
Time in Japan and Retirement
On December 30, 2020, Thames signed with the Yomiuri Giants. This team is in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. In his first game on April 27, 2021, he had to leave in the third inning. He hurt his leg trying to catch a fly ball. He was later told he had a ruptured Achilles tendon. This is a serious injury to a tendon in the ankle. He went back to the U.S. and had surgery on May 4. On August 23, the Giants released him from the team.
On February 18, 2022, Thames signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics. Thames played in 22 games for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. He hit .274 with 3 home runs and 16 RBIs. On May 10, the Athletics released him.
On February 15, 2023, Eric Thames announced that he was retiring from professional baseball.
Personal Life and Interests
In April 2016, the city of Changwon in South Korea gave Eric Thames honorary citizenship.
In February 2017, Thames won a golf tournament in Palm Springs, Florida. He beat actor Dylan McDermott in the final round.
In January 2019, Thames appeared on a Korean TV show called King of Mask Singer. On the show, he sang "Isn't She Lovely" and the K-pop song "Americano." Many people were impressed by his singing talent.
