First homer puts spring in Thames’ step
Nonroster invitee confident after missing much of 2021 to surgery
MESA, Ariz. — Spring training results carry little weight for older players, but at least one person noted that Eric Thames was still searching for a Cactus League hit before Friday.
“My mom was like, ‘I’m waiting for the first one,’ ” Thames said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, me, too.’ ”
Thames, the 35-year-old first baseman and nonroster invitee to A’s camp, ended the wait with a home run in his second at-bat Friday against the Brewers at Hohokam Stadium. He said the drive to center was a positive sign for his hitting approach at this point in spring.
“It was a 3-2 heater,” Thames said. “I was sitting off-speed, because everybody throws off-speed now, so kind of just working to stay inside of it. And it ended up being a middle-middle two-seam (fastball), so I was able to stay inside of it and use the big part of the yard.”
Thames lost nearly all of 2021 to Achilles surgery and so went nearly a year without facing live pitching. He did attend A’s minor-league minicamp late in the lockout — having signed a minor-league deal — and got some at-bats there in live batting practice and scrimmages.
“Seeing pitches and knowing the strike zone, I feel like I’m pretty locked in,” Thames said. “I’ve gotten under so many pitches, cookies I usually crush, just pop-up or foul ball or swing through it … (But) just seeing eye-hand, barrel hitting the ball, I feel like in terms of timing I’m timed up right for Opening Day.”
A groundout in his first spring at-bat let Thames test his repaired Achilles running up the first-base line. He said it feels “great” and changing direction on defense has not been a problem. Thames has worked at first base and also made starts at designated hitter.
Friday marked Thames’ first time facing the Brewers since he played for them from 2017 through ’19, hitting 72 homers in those three seasons. The San Jose native is competing for a roster spot as one of several first-base candidates in camp.
“I don’t really get too much into that,” Thames said. “When they say ‘You’re traveling tomorrow, back fields,’ it’s like, ‘OK, let’s go.’ Just getting more at-bats, and the more at-bats I get, the more opportunity to do some damage.”
Briefly: Cole Irvin pitched three innings in his second Cactus League start, allowing four hits and striking out six. Irvin said he focused on using his new cutter and altered slider. … Catcher Sean Murphy hit his first home run of the spring, a shot with a 115 mph exit velocity that cleared the scoreboard in left field at Hohokam. … Justin Grimm, Sam Moll and Domingo Acevedo each worked a scoreless relief inning after Irvin. All three are candidates to make the A’s bullpen. … Right fielder Stephen Piscotty (shoulder) responded well to a full workout Thursday and hit against a velocity machine Friday, manager Mark Kotsay said.