The Athletics are reportedly signing South Bay native Eric Thames to a minor league deal.
Thames, who grew up in San Jose and attended Bellarmine Prep, has played six seasons in the big leagues, most recently in 2020 with the Washington Nationals. The 35-year-old plays first base and both corner outfield positions.
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Thames made his MLB debut for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 and bounced in and out of the league for the next two seasons. In 2014, he signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO, where he grew into a legend in South Korea. Thames batted .349/.451/.721 with 124 home runs over three years with the Dinos. His power at the plate became so renowned that KBO fans just gave him the nickname “God.”
In 2017, Thames journeyed back to MLB and smacked 31 big flies for the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent 2017-19 in Milwaukee and played 41 games with Nationals in the shortened 2020 season before signing with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants last year.
In 605 career MLB games, Thames owns a .241/.325/.467 slash line with 96 home runs and 235 RBI.
Due to the current MLB lockout, no one knows when spring training will begin, but when it does, the San Jose native has a chance to earn a spot in the A’s organization.