Eric Thames

Thames had a rough go of it in 2018 after undergoing thumb surgery and struggling afterward, but he bounced back nicely last season, posting numbers closer to his first campaign back in the states than his second. Despite hitting 25 home runs and posting an OPS of at least .851 two of the last three seasons, the Brewers did not pick up the team option on his contract. He landed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Nationals. It's clear Thames has power, but 23 of his home runs last season came against right-handed pitchers and his .188 BA against left-handers over the last three years limits him to a platoon role. He also hit far better at Miller Park than on the road as a Brewer -- he recorded 45 HR and a .905 OPS at home and 27 HR and a .789 OPS on the road -- and will play next season at 33 years old. Howie Kendrick should get all the starts against lefties, but Thames could hit behind Juan Soto vs. RHP.

Thames burst onto the fantasy scene in 2017, hitting 31 home runs in his first campaign stateside since 2012. He got off to a fast start last year as well, but he injured his thumb in April and missed almost two months, and when he returned, Jesus Aguilar had established himself as the Brewers’ regular first baseman. Thames found playing time hard to come by after that, and he really struggled in a part-time role, posting just a .565 OPS after the All-Star break. Thames still managed an .804 OPS against right-handers last season despite hitting .223, so he could find himself in some sort of platoon there for the Brewers in 2019. However, unless he makes more contact, he could have trouble holding onto even that job.

No one really knew what to expect in Thames' first year in the big leagues since 2012, but he wasted little time showing what he was capable of, hitting 11 long balls in the season's first month. The 20 home runs he hit the rest of the way pale in comparison to his April total, but he still finished the year with respectable marks in both the on-base and slugging percentage categories. Thames was often subbed out last year against left-handed starters, but he was able to find some extra at-bats in the outfield, where he made 29 appearances. He will play about the same role at first base as he did last year, but the Brewers have better outfield depth than they did a year ago, so he may not see as much action there. Also, given the .789 OPS he posted from May onward, it will be a challenge for him to match the numbers he finished with a year ago. Thames had a productive return to MLB, but his fantasy prospects seem to be trending in the wrong direction heading into 2018.

Thames is returning from a three-year stint with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) to play for the Brewers. Thames posted video game numbers in Korea, particularly in 2015 when he slashed .381/.497/.790, with 47 home runs and 40 steals. He fell back to earth somewhat in 2016, but still posted a .317/.425/.676 line with 40 homers. Thames did have a sharp platoon split, however. The lefty hitting Thames did most of his damage in 2016 against righties, torching them for a .360 average and 28 home runs in 247 at-bats. The recent history of players transitioning from the KBO to MLB has been a mixed bag (Jung Ho Kang and Byungho Park), but Thames appears to be more confident and aggressive at the plate than he was during his previous time in MLB (where he had a career .727 OPS). He's set to play first base for the Brewers, but he could sit against some left-handed pitching.

Thames was claimed off waivers by the Astros in September, but he never saw the field as the club stuck with their younger outfielders down the stretch. Thames is still pretty young himself at age 27, and he possesses good on-base skills and decent power, but his success in the minors has not translated over a full season at the major league level thus far. Thames will look to sort things out in Korea after signing a deal with NC Dinos in December.

Thames came to Seattle from Toronto at the trade deadline and thrived at Safeco Field, posting a 1.044 OPS at home (58 AB) compared to .380 on the road (65 AB). Statistical anomaly in limited at-bats? Probably. More important is his lefty/righty split, which suggests a platoon future. It's a route the Mariners might have considered this season, but signing Raul Ibanez all but guarantees Thames won't be with the big-league club when camp breaks. Ultimately, Thames needs to improve his contract rate (.73 with Toronto, .63 with Seattle) for more consistency at the plate.

Thames got his well earned shot in May after a hot start at Triple-A Las Vegas and was up for good by June and seeing regular playing time. He hit 12 homers but struggled at times with the strike zone (88 strikeouts in 394 plate appearances) in his first exposure to the majors. His struggles against southpaws (.209 average, .637 OPS in 91 plate appearances) point to a platoon situation, potentially with Rajai Davis, as he tries to work his way into the picture in left field.

Thames enjoyed a breakout season at Double-A New Hampshire last year, hitting .286 with 27 homers in 130 games. He struggled against southpaws (.773 OPS) but handled righties well enough (.943 OPS) to warrant consideration as a nifty platoon mate down the road. He'll first need to prove that last year was no fluke after dealing with some injuries in the previous two seasons but bears watching.