Eric Thames, Infield

Date of Birth: 11/10/1986
Birthplace: Santa Clara, California
College: Pepperdine University

Eric Thames, infielder, was first drafted by the New York Yankees in 2007 but he opted instead to continue at Pepperdine University. A year later, he was drafted by and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He played in the minor leagues for just two seasons (2009 and 2010).

Thames played in 95 games with the Blue Jays in 2011. He finished the season with 95 hits, 24 doubles, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, 88 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a .262 batting average. Defensively, he played 52 games in left field and 27 games in right field and he made 146 putouts and 2 errors.

The Blue Jays traded Thames to the Seattle Mariners on July 31, 2012. He finished the 2012 season with 63 hits, 12 doubles, 25 RBIs, and a .232 batting average in 46 games with the Blue Jays and 40 games with the Mariners. Defensively, he played 44 games in left field and 35 games in right field and he made 145 putouts and 3 errors.

Thames was traded again in 2013, this time to the Baltimore Orioles on June 30th. He played only in the minors in 2013. The Houston Astros claimed him off waivers on September 5th and then released him on December 9th.

On December 9, 2013, the day the Astros released him, Thames signed with a Korean team. He played in Korea for three seasons (2014-2016). In 2015, he was named the KBO's MVP and he won a Golden Glove.

Thames signed a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on November 29, 2016. He finished the 2017 season with 116 hits, 26 doubles, 31 home runs, 63 RBIs, 163 strikeouts to 75 walks, and a .247 batting average in 138 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 108 games, he made 71 assists, 79 double plays, 805 putouts, and 6 errors.

Thames spent time on the DL in 2018. He played in 96 games with the Brewers and he had 54 hits, 16 home runs, 37 RBIs, 97 strikeouts to 29 walks, and a .219 batting average. Defensively, he played 29 games at first base, 10 games in left field, and 31 games in right field.

Thames finished the 2019 season with 98 hits, 23 doubles, 25 home runs, 61 RBIs, 140 strikeouts to 51 walks, and a .247 batting average in 149 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 105 games, he made 45 assists, 63 double plays, 639 putouts, and 3 errors. In the postseason, he had 2 hits, 1 home run, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout and no walks, and a .500 batting average in 4 at-bats in 1 game.

Thames became a free agent on November 4, 2019. He signed with the Washington Nationals on January 8, 2020. He played in 41 games in 2020, and he finished the season with 25 hits, 42 strikeouts to 14 walks, and a .203 batting average. Defensively, he played 27 games at first base. He was the DH in 12 games.

Thames elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He played in Japan in 2021.

Thames signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics on February 9, 2022. He was released on May 10, 2022.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Eric Thames
ESPN - Eric Thames