Eric Thames

Initially projected to be selected in the first three rounds, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the seventh round, with the 219th overall selection.

Thames signed with the Blue Jays and had surgery to repair the torn muscle.

Eric Allyn Thames (born November 10, 1986) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Nationals, in the KBO League for the NC Dinos, and in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.

He was an All-League player for two 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 to play for the Pepperdine Waves.

The New York Yankees of Major League Baseball selected Thames in the 39th round of the 2007 MLB draft, with the 1,191st overall selection.

Thames played college baseball for the Pepperdine Waves, and was chosen by the Blue Jays in the 2008 MLB draft.

He returned to Pepperdine for the 2008 season.

In 2008, Thames batted .407 with 13 home runs for the Waves, and was named the West Coast Conference's most valuable player.

Towards the end of the season, he tore a quadriceps muscle during a game.

Due to his quadriceps injury, Thames fell in the 2008 MLB draft.

He began his professional career with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in 2009, where he hit .313 with three home runs and 38 runs batted in (RBIs) in 52 games.

His playing time was limited by recurring difficulty with the quadriceps injury, and he also played rehab games for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League later that year.

Thames spent the 2010 season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Class AA Eastern League.

He hit 27 home runs for the Fisher Cats with 104 RBIs.

He made his MLB debut for Toronto in 2011, and was traded to the Mariners in 2012.

He began the 2011 season with the Las Vegas 51s of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL).

In 32 games for Las Vegas, Thames batted .342 with six home runs and 30 RBIs.

Thames 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 Las Vegas to make room for the return of Adam Lind.

On June 23, he was recalled to Toronto.

On June 29, Thames hit his first career home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Maholm.

Thames played 95 games for the Blue Jays in 2011, finishing with a .262 batting average, 12 home runs, and 37 RBIs.

The Blue Jays had Thames and Travis Snider compete for a role on their roster in spring training in 2012.

Thames made the Blue Jays Opening Day roster and appeared in 46 games for the Blue Jays, in which he hit .243 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

The Blue Jays then sent Thames to Las Vegas.

He batted .330 for Las Vegas after the demotion.

On July 31, 2012, the Blue Jays traded Thames to the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Steve Delabar.

He batted .220 in 40 games for the Mariners.

After spending the 2013 season in Minor League Baseball, he signed with the Dinos for the 2014 season.

He won the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award in 2015, and signed with the Brewers before the 2017 season.

Thames grew up in the San Jose-Santa Clara area.

He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose.

As a freshman, he was the junior varsity baseball team's third string shortstop.

He became the starting shortstop as a sophomore, and then joined the varsity team in his junior year.