Eric Thames Adds a World of Experience

On Monday, the Washington Nationals signed Eric Thames to a one year $4 million contract to help fill the offensive void left by Anthony Rendon. I understood that Thames was well respected and has had an unique career trajectory, but as I dug deeper, I realized that I may have found my new favorite player.

While combing the internet, I found one reason after another to root for Thames. I knew that he left the US for five seasons and played in Korea before his triumphant return in 2017, but there is a lot to like about Thames beyond the headline.

He obviously evolved as a player during his time in Korea, but he also immersed himself into the culture. He learned Korean so well that he was a…