But making those changes hasn’t been easy for Thames.

“It’s tough,” Thames said. “In terms of the league, how I’m getting pitched to compared to other players, it’s tough. I’m not getting fastballs down the middle or off-speed pitches right down the middle of the plate. Guys are pitching (to me) tough trying to get me out.”

“I’m not really focused on the result,” Thames added. “I’m just trying to focus on preparing and controlling what I can control.”

Getting Thames to pass on pitches was the toughest part, said Brewers manager Craig Counsell.

“He got to a point last year where it was just too much chase,” Counsell said. “He’s got to take his walks. He has to take his walks. And he’s done a much better job of that this year.”

Counsell said when Thames does swing at the right pitch “he’s a very dangerous offensive player.”

For example, last Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics, Thames hit a solo home run to tie the game in the top of the ninth 2-2. The Brewers ended up losing the game 3-2 in 10 innings.

The team has also bought into Thames’ improvement, hoping he can repeat his 2017 season when he smashed 31 home runs and drove in 63 runs.