Prior to last season, the last time Eric Thames stood between the lines of a Major League baseball field was in 2012. He spent his time away from the Majors becoming one of the most feared power hitters in the KBO, bashing 30, 42, and 30 homers from 2014-16. However, no one knew exactly what the Milwaukee Brewers were getting when he signed a three-year contract to come back to the states.

One year later, we're still not sure. Overall, Thames had a fine power season, smashing 31 homers and putting up a .247/.359/.518 slash line with 63 RBI, a 124 wRC+, and a 2.1 fWAR. Much of his stat sheet was generated during a red-hot April, though, in which he hit 11 bombs, slugged .810, and had an OPS of 1.276. In the following months, he was rather inconsistent. He hit 23 of his 30 bombs in the first half, had an OPS under .700 in June and August, and struck out 149 times in 503 plate appearances overall.

Is he one of the NL's best sluggers? The 2018 season will go a long way to providing more answers.