{"id":262981,"date":"2026-06-01T17:10:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T08:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/uncategorized\/2026\/06\/01\/from-kbo-legend-to-mlb-star-eric-thames-returns-to-korea\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T17:10:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T08:10:50","slug":"from-kbo-legend-to-mlb-star-eric-thames-returns-to-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/entertainment\/2026\/06\/01\/from-kbo-legend-to-mlb-star-eric-thames-returns-to-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"From KBO Legend to MLB Star: Eric Thames Returns to Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"

Translation result\"\u524d\uc57c\uad6c\uc120\uc218\"<\/p>\n

[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\u2019s been doing lately.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Jung-gu district.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"2015\ub144\"<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He made history in 2015, slashing .381 with 180 hits, 47 homers, 40 steals, 130 runs and 140 RBIs across 142 games \u2014 becoming the KBO\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Thames\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

Injuries eventually pushed him toward retirement. Thames signed with Japan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m happy to be back in Korea,\u201d Thames said. \u201cI plan to come once or twice a year. I\u2019m grateful MLB invited me to this meaningful event.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked whether he still follows the KBO, he said it\u2019s difficult to watch live games from the U.S., but he keeps up with highlights on social media. \u201cKorean fans often send me clips, and I enjoy watching them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I\u2019m in Korea I\u2019ll try to see as many KBO games as possible,\u201d Thames added. \u201cI recently woke up early to watch the 2026 WBC and cheered for Korea. It felt great to see the young players reach the quarterfinals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thames plans to head to the ballpark on June 2 to watch the Doosan-Hanwha game at Jamsil Stadium.<\/p>\n

About his former club NC, he said, \u201cI don\u2019t have much time on this trip, so I can\u2019t make it to their game. I went last August. If they make the playoffs this season, I\u2019ll come see them and cheer\u2014shirt off.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Thames is known for visiting Korea often. He laughed, \u201cThe food is great \u2014 I miss the meat.\u201d He said it\u2019s hard to pick a favorite place, but he loves Korea overall. \u201cSometimes 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

On his current life, he said, \u201cI\u2019m resting right now. It\u2019s summer, so I\u2019m enjoying the season and taking time off. Next month I\u2019ll play a softball game in Milwaukee with former players, so I\u2019m getting in shape for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the recent fan trend in MLB of taking off shirts and waving T\u2011shirts, Thames joked that his belly makes that difficult. He waved his hand and, in Korean, called himself a \u201cpig.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MLB Breakfast Club aims to expand the league\u2019s reach through social media, fashion, entertainment and cultural programming. The campaign seeks to make MLB part of Korea\u2019s morning routine \u2014 on commutes, during meals and breaks \u2014 and to embed the league naturally into daily life. Following today\u2019s event, organizers plan additional activations in early August, September and October.<\/p>\n

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