From KBO Legend to MLB Star: Eric Thames Returns to Korea

Daniel Kim 2026.06.01 Views

Translation result 前야구선수

[MyDaily = Kim Kyung-hyun in Jung-gu] Eric Thames, who achieved legendary status with the NC Dinos, returned to Korea and spoke about what he’s been doing lately.

Thames joined SPOTV analyst Kim Byung-hyun and former pitcher Dustin Nippert for the MLB Breakfast Club media day on June 1 at the Mukjeong restaurant on Toegye-ro in Seoul’s Jung-gu district.

Thames entered professional baseball after the 2008 rookie draft, taken in the seventh round, No. 219, by the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his major-league debut in 2011 and in 95 games recorded 95 hits, 12 homers, 58 runs, 37 RBIs, a .262 batting average and a .769 OPS. In 2012 he split the season between Toronto and the Seattle Mariners, hitting .232 with 63 hits, 9 homers, 27 runs and 15 RBIs in 86 games. He spent much of 2013 in the minors.

2015년

His career took a dramatic turn in 2014 when he signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO. That season he dominated the league, hitting .343 with 152 hits, 37 homers, 11 steals and a 1.110 OPS over 125 games.

He made history in 2015, slashing .381 with 180 hits, 47 homers, 40 steals, 130 runs and 140 RBIs across 142 games — becoming the KBO’s first member of the 40-40 club. In 2024, Kim Do-young came close but finished with 38 homers and 40 steals. Thames led the league in batting average, on-base percentage (.497), slugging (.790) and runs, and he took home the first-base Golden Glove and the MVP award.

Thames’ success in Korea opened the door back to MLB. In 2016 he hit 40 homers and stole 13 bases, then signed a three-year, $16 million (approximately 24.2 billion KRW) deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He slugged 31 homers that season and reinforced his KBO MVP credentials. He continued to produce solid numbers through 2019, then moved to the Washington Nationals in 2020, where he managed 3 homers and a .617 OPS in 41 games.

Injuries eventually pushed him toward retirement. Thames signed with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants in 2021 but suffered a torn Achilles in his first top-level game and missed the season. Back in the United States, he signed a minor-league contract with the Oakland Athletics in 2022 but never received a big-league call-up and retired before the 2023 season.

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“I’m happy to be back in Korea,” Thames said. “I plan to come once or twice a year. I’m grateful MLB invited me to this meaningful event.”

When asked whether he still follows the KBO, he said it’s difficult to watch live games from the U.S., but he keeps up with highlights on social media. “Korean fans often send me clips, and I enjoy watching them,” he said.

“While I’m in Korea I’ll try to see as many KBO games as possible,” Thames added. “I recently woke up early to watch the 2026 WBC and cheered for Korea. It felt great to see the young players reach the quarterfinals.”

Thames plans to head to the ballpark on June 2 to watch the Doosan-Hanwha game at Jamsil Stadium.

About his former club NC, he said, “I don’t have much time on this trip, so I can’t make it to their game. I went last August. If they make the playoffs this season, I’ll come see them and cheer—shirt off.”

김병현,

Thames is known for visiting Korea often. He laughed, “The food is great — I miss the meat.” He said it’s hard to pick a favorite place, but he loves Korea overall. “Sometimes I come for four or five days with friends to visit Busan and the beaches. There are more concerts and festivals now, and I want to check those out, too.”

On his current life, he said, “I’m resting right now. It’s summer, so I’m enjoying the season and taking time off. Next month I’ll play a softball game in Milwaukee with former players, so I’m getting in shape for that.”

When asked about the recent fan trend in MLB of taking off shirts and waving T‑shirts, Thames joked that his belly makes that difficult. He waved his hand and, in Korean, called himself a “pig.”

The MLB Breakfast Club aims to expand the league’s reach through social media, fashion, entertainment and cultural programming. The campaign seeks to make MLB part of Korea’s morning routine — on commutes, during meals and breaks — and to embed the league naturally into daily life. Following today’s event, organizers plan additional activations in early August, September and October.