Eric Thames

Eric Thames

Thames with the Seattle Mariners
NC Dinos – No. 14
Infielder
Born: (1986-11-10) November 10, 1986
Santa Clara, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 18, 2011, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through 2012 season)
Batting average .250
Hits 158
Home runs 21
Runs batted in 62
KBO statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average .363
Hits 332
Home runs 84
Runs batted in 261
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Eric Allyn Thames (pronounced /θeɪms/) (born November 10, 1986) is an American professional baseball infielder for the NC Dinos of the KBO League. He was previously an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. Thames won the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award in 2015.

Early years

Eric Thames grew up in the San Jose-Santa Clara area. He attended Bellarmine College Prep where he was an all league player 2 years and a team MVP as a senior in 2004. Thames then attended West Valley Community College after sitting a year at Cabrillo College in 2005. During the 2006 season Thames made the Northern California all-state team, and he also made the first team all conference squad. From there, Thames transferred to Pepperdine University.[1] Thames was drafted from Pepperdine University by the New York Yankees in the 39th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, pick number 1191 overall.[2] He chose to continue his studies at Pepperdine. He was drafted the following year by the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, pick number 219 overall.[3]

Professional career

Thames began his professional career with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League in 2009. He also spent time rehabbing with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays of the Gulf Coast League later that year, and spent the 2010 season with the Blue Jays' Double-A affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League.

Toronto Blue Jays

He made his MLB debut on May 18, 2011 against the Tampa Bay Rays recording his first career hit and RBI, driving in second baseman Aaron Hill. Thames also recorded his first career walk and run scored in that game. Thames hit his first career double against the Houston Astros on May 21.

On June 3, Thames was optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s to make room for the return of Adam Lind. On June 23, he was recalled to Toronto.[4]

On June 29, Thames hit his first career home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Maholm. Thames played 95 games in 2011, finishing with a .262 batting average, 12 home runs, and 37 RBI.

Thames made the Blue Jays roster out of spring training in 2012, and appeared in 46 games before being sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas. In 46 games, Thames hit .243 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI.[5]

Seattle Mariners

On July 31, 2012 Thames was traded to the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Steve Delabar.[6]

On March 20, 2013, Thames was optioned to the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate Tacoma Rainiers.[7] On June 22, the Mariners designated Thames for assignment in order to clear room on the 40-man roster for the return of Franklin Gutierrez from the 60-day disabled list.[8]

Baltimore Orioles

Thames was traded by the Mariners to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league infielder Ty Kelly on June 30, 2013. Thames was immediately optioned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.[9] He was designated for assignment on September 1.

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros claimed Thames off waivers on September 5.[10] He played for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks the next day. He had 2 hits (including a home run) in 4 at-bats as Oklahoma lost and was eliminated from the playoffs.[11] He was released on December 9, 2013.[12]

NC Dinos

Thames signed with the NC Dinos on December 9, 2013.[13] In the 2014 season he batted .343 with 37 home runs, 121 runs batted in, and an OPS of 1.110.[14] During the 2015 season, Thames became the first player in KBO history to hit for the cycle twice in one season.[15] Thames also became the first member of the KBO's 40–40 club.[16] On November 24, Thames was named the MVP of the KBO League. He is the third foreign-born player to win the award, joining Tyrone Woods and Danny Rios.[17] Also, Thames won 2015 KBO Golden Glove Award for first basemen.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Eric Thames bio". Pepperdine University. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  2. ↑ "39th Round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  3. ↑ "7th Round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  4. ↑ http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110623&content_id=20919918&notebook_id=20919910&vkey=notebook_tor&c_id=tor
  5. ↑ Jays send Thames to Triple-A, recall McCoy
  6. ↑ "Snider, Thames traded for Lincoln, Delabar in separate moves". TSN.ca. July 31, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  7. ↑ http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/news-update/21917891/mariners-option-eric-thames-to-triplea
  8. ↑ Divish, Ryan (June 22, 2013). "Roster move: Franklin Gutierrez activated from 60-day DL, Michael Morse placed on 15-day, Eric Thames DFA’d". The News Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Orioles acquire outfielder Eric Thames from Seattle". MASN. June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  10. ↑ Takahashi, Julie (September 5, 2013). "Astros Claim Outfielder Eric Thames". SportsRadio610. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ Hill, Benjamin (October 10, 2013). "Crooked Numbers: Zigzagging to end". milb.com. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  12. ↑ Adams, Steve (December 9, 2013). "Astros Release Eric Thames". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  13. ↑ "KBO: NC Dinos Sign Eric Thames". baseball-avenue.com. December 9, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Eric Thames Korean Statistics". homeplate.kr. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "(2nd LD) Eric Thames of NC Dinos becomes first KBO player with two cycles in one season". english.yonhapnews.co.kr. August 11, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Eric Thames becomes first with 40-40 in S. Korean baseball; Park Byung-ho sets RBI mark". Yonhap. October 2, 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  17. ↑ Lowe, Jeff (November 24, 2015). "Ex-Blue Jays outfielder Eric Thames wins MVP in South Korea". Sportsnet. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  18. ↑ "KBO MVP Thames adds Golden Glove to mantelpiece". english.yonhapnews.co.kr. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

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