Marcus Thames facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marcus Thames |
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Thames coaching the Tampa Yankees in 2013
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| Chicago White Sox – No. 99 | |||
| Left fielder / Designated hitter / Coach | |||
| Born: March 6, 1977 Louisville, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 10, 2002, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 6, 2011, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 115 | ||
| Runs batted in | 301 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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Marcus Thames (born March 6, 1977) is a professional baseball player and coach from America. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 to 2011. He was a left fielder and designated hitter for teams like the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
After playing, he became a coach. He coached for the Yankees (2016-2021), the Miami Marlins (2022), and the Los Angeles Angels (2023). As of 2024, he is the hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox. Marcus Thames was known for hitting a lot of home runs. He hit a home run about every 15.9 times he batted. He holds a record for the Detroit Tigers, hitting a home run every 14.8 times at bat.
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Early Life and College Sports
Marcus Thames grew up in Louisville, Mississippi. He went to Louisville High School. There, he played three different sports: baseball, basketball, and football.
After high school, he went to East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi. He received a scholarship to play football. In the spring of 1996, he also joined the baseball team.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Starting with the Yankees
The New York Yankees chose Marcus Thames in the 30th round of the 1996 MLB draft. He decided to go back to college for another year. Later, he signed with the Yankees. By 2001, he was playing in Double-A.
At 24 years old, he had a great year. He hit .321, with 31 home runs and 97 RBIs for the Norwich Navigators. This made him a promising player. In 2002, he moved up to Triple-A.
Thames made his first MLB game appearance for the Yankees on June 10, 2002. In his very first time at bat, he hit a home run. He hit it off the first pitch he saw from Randy Johnson.
Time with the Texas Rangers
On June 6, 2003, the Yankees traded Thames to the Texas Rangers. The Yankees wanted a left-handed batter, so they traded him for Rubén Sierra. Thames hit a home run in his first game with the Rangers too. However, the Rangers let him go after that season.
Playing for the Detroit Tigers
Marcus Thames signed with the Detroit Tigers in December 2003. He played well in Triple-A, hitting .321 with 24 home runs. Because of this, he was called up to the Tigers on June 22, 2004. On July 25, he hit his first career grand slam.
In 2005, he was almost on the Tigers' main team. He was called up five games into the season. In his first game back, he hit another grand slam. He later played a big part in the Toledo Mud Hens winning the Governor's Cup.
Key Moments with the Tigers
Thames made the Tigers' team for opening day in 2006. He was the fourth outfielder. He had a big play on July 20 against the Chicago White Sox. His slide helped the Tigers score the winning run. That year, he had his best season. He hit .256 with 26 home runs and 60 RBIs. Fans nicknamed him "Country Strong."
In 2007, the Tigers had him learn to play first base. This was so he could play more often. On July 1, he hit a solo home run that was the only run in a game against the Minnesota Twins. On July 6, he hit his third career grand slam. Two days later, he hit a very long home run, 440 feet.
During the 2008 season, Thames hit eight home runs in just seven games. This happened from June 11 to 17. He was the first Tigers player to do this. He also hit a home run in five games in a row. On June 21, he hit a two-run home run as a pinch hitter to win a game.
In 2009, Thames became the full-time designated hitter. He hit his 100th career home run on August 9. He reached this milestone faster than any other MLB player at that time. He was released by the Tigers at the end of the season.
Second Time with the Yankees
Thames signed a deal to return to the Yankees on February 8, 2010. He made the team because he was good at hitting against left-handed pitchers. He started the season sharing time in left field.
He later moved to a bench role. He played more when other players were injured. He hit .288 with 12 home runs in 82 games. He had many important hits that season. On May 17, he hit a walk-off home run to win a game against the Red Sox. On July 4, he hit a game-winning single.
On July 29, Thames played third base for the first time in his career. On August 11, he helped the Yankees come back from a big deficit. He hit a home run and a game-winning single. From August 24 to 30, he hit 6 home runs and had 11 RBIs in just 21 times at bat.
In the 2010 playoffs, he hit a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins. This was his first home run in the postseason. He also helped the Yankees win Game 1 of the 2010 ALCS.
Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers
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Thames signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2011 season. He hit two home runs as a pinch-hitter in April. In May, he was injured and missed five weeks. He played in 70 games for the Dodgers. He was released by the team on July 19, 2011.
Third Time with the Yankees
On July 22, 2011, the New York Yankees signed Thames again. However, he did not play in any games for the Yankees that season.
Coaching Career
Coaching for the Yankees
On January 10, 2013, Marcus Thames became the hitting coach for the Tampa Yankees. This team is a High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. In 2014, he became the hitting coach for the Trenton Thunder. This is the Yankees' Double-A team. A top Yankees prospect, Rob Refsnyder, said Thames helped him improve his hitting.
After the 2015 season, Thames was promoted. He became the assistant hitting coach for the main New York Yankees team. After the 2017 season, he was promoted again to be the main hitting coach. His contract was not renewed after the 2021 season.
Coaching for Other Teams
On November 17, 2021, Thames was hired by the Miami Marlins. He served as their hitting coach for the 2022 season.
On November 7, 2022, the Los Angeles Angels hired Thames. He became their hitting coach for the 2023 season.
In November 2023, the Chicago White Sox hired Thames. He is their new hitting coach for the 2024 season and beyond.
Personal Life
Marcus Thames's mother, Veterine, was paralyzed from a car accident in 1982. Marcus was five years old at the time. He and his five brothers and sisters helped take care of the house. They cooked, cleaned, and did odd jobs to earn money. His mother could only watch him play baseball a few times. She passed away in 2012.
Thames's nickname is "Slick." He got this nickname when he was four years old because his hair was cut too short.
Thames was part of the Mississippi National Guard from 1994 to 1998. He was a leader in his basic training group. After he joined the Yankees, he was allowed to complete his Guard duties during the off-season.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat
