Eric Thames of NC Dinos, a hit on and off field

Eric Thames of the NC Dinos hits the ball in a game against the Hanwha Eagels on April 4. / Courtesy of NC Dinos

By Patrick Bourgo

CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province ― Ever since he debuted in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) last year, NC Dinos first baseman Eric Thames has been making his mark both on and off the field.

Not only has he put up huge numbers, in line to start in his first KBO All-Star game, he has also forged a deep connection with the local fan base ― a rare accomplishment among foreign players in the league.

He cannot walk even a few meters without being asked to sign an autograph or pose for a photo, requests to which he graciously obliges.

However, Thames' life today is a stark contrast to that a few years ago, when he was still trying to make a name for himself with the Toronto Blue Jays in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent much of his time shuffling between the minors and big leagues and ultimately spent the entire 2013 season in Triple-A.

"I was depressed and becoming salty," Thames recalled. "My past two or three years in the States, I was so stressed, and I don't want to live like that."

After a hugely successful first KBO season in which he hit .343 with 37 homers, 121 RBIs and a 1.111 on-base plus slugging percentage, he continues to perform well this season, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dangerous hitters in Korea.

"I'm having fun, having a good time with my teammates. I dig it," the San Jose, Calif. Native said.

Thames, who at 28 is in the prime of his career, appears to be hitting his stride both professionally and personally in Masan. While he is not the first ex-MLB player to find success in Asia, his story reflects a changing attitude toward playing baseball in countries such as Korea and Japan.

Players used to think that "only guys in their late 30s or guys that are older go to Asia," Thames said. They thought, "‘I won't go back to the big leagues. I've done the big leagues, (now) I want a job.'"

But today, "you see a lot of younger guys coming over here and guys that actually do want to have careers in Korea and careers in Japan."

For Thames though, the decision to come to Korea didn't come easy.

Making the leap

One needs only to spend a few minutes walking around with Thames to get an idea of his popularity in this southern city of 400,000.

This reporter recently spent two days accompanying Thames during the course of his daily routine and saw the extent to which the Californian had become a sensation.

Getting out of a taxi, he was immediately recognized by people. They follow him, calling his name and pointing at him. At lunch, as he was about to take a bite of his food, a waitress taps his shoulder, holding a piece of paper for an autograph. Later at dinner, a group of young men at a nearby table linger over beers, gathering the courage to approach him.

Everywhere he goes, people of all ages boisterously yell, "Thames fighting!" a Korean expression of support and encouragement.

Having played the sport since childhood, Thames realized while playing for Pepperdine University in Malibu that he might be able to go pro. And indeed, according to one veteran MLB scout , Thames does have the talent to play in MLB.He made his MLB debut in 2011 and played 95 games for the Blue Jays that year. While he put up respectable numbers in the minors, he was never able to catch the break he needed to make an impression with the big club.

Despite this setback, when he first heard that the KBO was interested in him, he dismissed it, reasoning, "I'm young. I still have a chance at the big leagues. I don't want to go to Asia."

After thinking about it, however, he decided to take a chance.

"I started thinking and talking to my mom and talked with some friends and thought, ‘You know what? It's a new opportunity.' I said, ‘Sign me up. Let's go!' And I haven't looked back since."

Adjusting to Korea

In a league where the turnover of foreign players is quite high ― only about 11 percent of foreigners last for two seasons ― Korea has seen its share of talented foreign imports fail. How then has Thames lasted in Korean baseball? By keeping an open mind.

"Life is different obviously," he said. "I'm not trying to think of Korea like America. I'm a visitor to their country, to this country; I'm just trying to learn about it. There is no better feeling than learning about a different culture, different people and learning about yourself as well."

He started learning Korean this spring using an app on his phone, partly motivated by a desire to interact better with fans.

"If a kid says something to me, I want to be able to talk to the kid," he said.

While he still has a long way to go in mastering Korean, his teammates have noticed his effort. It should come as no surprise to anyone who has watched a Dinos game that Thames says he is probably closest to catcher Kim Tae-gun, who is famous for tugging the American's beard. During one game in late May, Kim tugged a little too hard and actually ripped out part of Thames' beard.

"It's funny, we used to always joke about it last year, like ‘Hey, what happens if I rip it out?' and I was like, ‘Don't worry about it. It'll grow back,'" Thames said.

He also enjoys talking about hitting with outfielder Na Sung-bum. "I love him because he has such a fascination with the game and he always wants to learn."

While Thames is usually laid back when away from the stadium, his intensity is immediately apparent when he starts discussing batting and his training regimen.

Despite his gaudy numbers this season, hitting is not something that comes naturally for him. He says, "I'm not one of those guys who can just roll out of bed and hit. I have to train hard." He usually does extra batting practice before and after home games.

When he's away from Masan, his training is different. "On the road, it's tough because there are no cages for visiting teams. So usually, I'll go to an empty ballroom in the hotel and do some dry hacks, so I can get my swing feeling right."

Dealing with fame

While Thames is loving his experience in Korea overall, his newfound fame is still something he's trying to get used to.

At times, the attention becomes overwhelming. The American sometimes has to wait up to two hours to leave the stadium after a game, because fans are clamoring for a photo. "I try to wait for them to disperse a bit, so you're not walking through a gauntlet," he quips, adding that he watches television and plays video games at home to unwind from it all. He's currently playing The Order: 1886 and just finished Dying Light.

He also has to adjust to differences at the stadium , such as music blaring even while players are up to bat.

Does he find the differences distracting? "No, it's just different, but right now, I'm pretty much used to it. When you hear the music, it's kind of cool. It keeps you upbeat. It's good to hear the fans chanting and having a good time."

Thames said he doesn't get to choose the songs the fans sing during his at-bats, but he does pick his walk-up music ― the songs "Braindead" and "WTF" by Zomboy.

Thames, who stands at 183 centimeters (six feet) and weighs 95 kilograms (210 pounds), said the hardest aspect of his daily life "is not blending in."

"Unless I stay in my apartment or, you know, just kind of go off somewhere where nobody is … somebody will recognize me," he said.

"It's so strange for me not blending in, because I'm used to being in America and people not really knowing who I am."

He was quick to add, however: "I'm not saying it's bad at all to be recognized, because it's also an honor to be part of a team and be part of this community."

Thames is doing all he can to get involved in the community. For example, he has arranged for a group of kids from a nearby orphanage to visit the ballpark for a game later this month. "I wanted to do something with the kids and thought it would be a good way for the community to get involved with the Dinos."

Thames has come to consider Masan his home in Korea, and his affection for the "pleasant community" here is easy to notice.

"Everybody loves their baseball here. People love the Dinos, and they love the KBO. And if you love baseball, you're good in my book."

Patrick Bourgo is a Seoul-based baseball researcher and writer. Follow him on Twitter: @kballhistory.