Eric Thames
A power-hitting journeyman who rewrote his career script by becoming a record-breaking superstar in South Korea's major league.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American baseball player·Birthday: November 10·Millennials
Biography
Eric Thames's baseball narrative is one of reinvention. After a promising but inconsistent start in MLB with Toronto and Seattle, his career trajectory shifted dramatically when he signed with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization in 2014. In Seoul, he transformed into a fearsome slugger, captivating fans with his prodigious home runs and charismatic style. His 2015 season was historic, as he became the first foreign player to win the KBO's triple crown, leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBI. This Korean renaissance earned him a triumphant return to MLB with Milwaukee, where he provided crucial left-handed power for a playoff-contending team. Thames's path proves that a player's story can have multiple, globally-spanning chapters.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Eric was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2015 KBO League MVP and Triple Crown, batting .381 with 47 home runs and 140 RBI.
- Hit 124 home runs across three dominant seasons with the NC Dinos in the KBO.
- Played key roles for MLB playoff teams, including the 2019 Milwaukee Brewers who reached the NL Wild Card Game.
- Hit a walk-off home run for the Washington Nationals in what became his final MLB at-bat in 2022.
Did You Know?
He is a skilled guitarist and has performed the national anthem on his guitar before MLB games.
After his first stint in MLB, he played briefly in the Venezuelan winter league before moving to Korea.
He adopted a distinctive, long beard and hair look during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers.
He was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 2007 but did not sign.
“I went to Korea, simplified my swing, and found my power.”
