Brewers’ Eric Thames leaves game with tight hamstring

Brewers resurging first baseman Eric Thames left Wednesday’s game against the Reds with a tight hamstring, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell told McCalvy that Thames’ injury is “not a big deal.”

Thames came out of the game in the top of the eighth inning during Scott Scheduler's at-bat. Thames, who was replaced by Jesus Aguilar, finished the game with a single, two walks and two runs scored.

Thames has been the big talk of the majors this season, as the 30-year-old has blasted a league-leading 11 home runs after not playing in the league since 2012. He had hit a long ball in each of the Brewers’ six previous games against the Reds.

Before this year, Thames had spent the last three years playing in South Korea and in Venezuela. He batted .348 and averaged 41 homers and 126 RBI in this time overseas. His best season was in 2015 when he smacked 47 homers, drove in 140 runs and hit .381 for South Korea’s NC Dinos.

Thames has already been under suspicion for possibly being on performance-enhancing drugs. In fact, he submitted a second random drug test after hitting his 11th homer Tuesday against Cincinnati and said the following to McCalvy and other reporters:

“I went the long way around to come back here. This whole thing is surprising me, as well. I really have no goals for this year. I wasn't trying to break any records or set anything. I just wanted to apply what I learned in Korea to see how it would fare here. I'm shocked at all the results. I'm just here to play ball, and do my best to stay healthy, and stretch as much as I can.

“So, yeah, if people keep thinking I'm on stuff, I'll be here every day. I have lots of blood and urine.”