TORONTO - Eric Thames was supposed to be the future.
Not a future Korea Baseball Organization superstar or a future Milwaukee Brewers MLB reclamation product, but a future power threat residing in the middle of the Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup and a homegrown success story from the seventh round of the 2008 draft.
“As of now, this spot might be low, because he could be a solid, everyday corner outfielder,” Kevin Goldstein, now the director of pro scouting with the Houston Astros, wrote for Baseball Prospectus when he labelled Thames the 12th-best prospect in the Jays’ system prior to the 2011 season.