The Milwaukee Brewers fell to the Miami Marlins by the score of 5-1 on Friday evening. And while the outcome was a disappointment, the event that followed the game kept most of the crowd of 41,000 fans at their seats for hours after the final out. That event, of course, was the Brewers alumni home run derby that featured several retired fan favorites from the past two decades.
Carlos Gomez, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Yovanni Gallardo, and Eric Thames were just a few of the former players that returned to Milwaukee to participate in the event, which drew rave reviews from fans and analysts all over baseball, with many calling for all Major League teams to have such an event next year.
Despite the 2025 Brewers loss prior to the home run derby, nothing could damped the hopes in and admiration the former players have for the current roster.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Star Eric Thames Wants Team to Beat the Chicago Cubs
As mentioned, Thames was one of the former Brewers stars that competed in the alumni home run derby at American Family Field on Friday night. The former slugger played in Milwaukee from 2017-2019, and hit .241/.343/.504 with 72 of his 96 career home runs and 161 RBI.
His best season was in 2017 when he hit .247/.359/.518 with 31 home runs and 63 RBI.
During the festivities on Friday, Thames was asked to give his thoughts on this year’s Brewers team:
Eric Thames says this current Brewers team is “nasty”👇
“Just beat the Cubs.” pic.twitter.com/W1Hj8jmKBt
— Hunter Baumgardt (@hunterbonair) July 26, 2025
“They’re nasty, they’re nasty,” Thames said. “I mean, I’m happy because I saw the Cubs were up for a while and the Brewers were kinda eh, but then they got hot again.
“You know, like, not a lot of home run guys, but they string together four or five hits, doubles, line drives, pitching is lights out, so I love it. Just beat the Cubs.”
Milwaukee currently holds a one-game lead over Chicago for first place in the National League Central Division. During Thames’ tenure with the Brewers, the two teams each won a division title and were, as they are now, fierce rivals.
For his part, Thames hit .269 with six home runs, 15 RBI, and 20 runs scored against the Cubs during his three seasons with the Brewers.
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