Eric Thames no longer feels like a flash in the pan. Signing a player out of the Korean League seems like a high-risk, high-reward proposition. So far, he has only been the latter for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was up to his old tricks again on Monday night, hitting two home runs at home and forcing the Cincinnati Reds to consider issuing intentional walks when he stepped up to the plate. Just another day at the ballpark for baseball's newest sensation.
Keep on raking
The first time Thames stepped to the plate on Monday was in the first inning. Following a ground out by Jonathan Villar, he came to the plate looking to get a hit for the team.
He did more than that, crushing a ball to right field and leaving Reds rookie starter Amir Garrett looking dismayed. The solo shot put the Brewers up 1-0 and the team would add three more runs to that total within the frame.
Just an inning later, Thames was back at the plate, with Garrett still on the mound. This time around, Villar was on base following a walk. The result at the plate was exactly the same, only the slugger went to the opposite field, a two-run shot that would boost his team's lead to 6-1. Thames would later walk once and be intentionally walked a separate time, a nod to the force he has become at the plate. In an offensive showdown, the Brewers went on to defeat the Reds 11-7.
From afterthought to league leader
Thames loves to mash against the Cincinnati Reds. Seven of his ten home runs so far this season have come against the Brewers' National League Central foe. That includes five consecutive games with home runs against the Reds. The only other player in history to have seven home runs against a single team in the month of April was Willie Stargell, who hit eight against the Atlanta Braves in 1971.
Thames' ten home runs are three more than any other player in the majors so far this season.
Not bad for someone who was out of the league just last season. Thames has seen his MLB career take him across the country, failing to latch on anywhere for too long. With the Brewers, however, he has become one of the most feared sluggers in all of baseball.
He draws more attention than teammate Ryan Braun, who has held that distinction in recent years for the team. The team signed Thames to a three-year deal and he has already lived up to every dollar of his contract. If he can keep this up, he could come out of nowhere to win the National League MVP Award at the end of the year.