He played for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left fielder and designated hitter from 2002 through 2011.

He attended East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi on a football scholarship and walked onto the baseball team in the spring of 1996.

[7][8] On June 6, 2003, the Yankees, who were looking for a left-handed batter, traded Thames to the Texas Rangers for Rubén Sierra.

[17] Thames was a key part of the Toledo Mud Hens team that won the International League Governor's Cup that year.

Despite his struggles in that role in the past, new manager Jim Leyland felt he earned the right to prove himself.

His takeout slide against second baseman Tadahito Iguchi in the seventh inning broke up an inning-ending double play that allowed the Tigers the opportunity to score the go-ahead run and take a commanding lead in the division.

[22][23][24] He set career highs in every offensive category that year, hitting .256 with 26 home runs and 60 RBI in only 348 at-bats, finishing with a solid .882 OPS.

[32] During the 2008 season, Thames hit eight home runs in a seven-game stretch from June 11 to 17, becoming the first Tigers batter in team franchise history to achieve that feat.

[35] When the Tigers released Gary Sheffield at the end of spring training in 2009, Thames was named the full-time designated hitter.

Thames would see more regular starts in left when Gardner moved to center field in place of the injured Curtis Granderson.

[51][52] On July 4, Thames returned from a DL stint to hit a game-ending single against the Toronto Blue Jays.

[53] On July 29, Thames made his first professional career appearance at third base as a late-inning replacement, committing a throwing error in his only chance.

[54] On August 24, Thames, Mark Teixeira, and Jorge Posada each hit a home run in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

[58] Thames served as the designated hitter when Lance Berkman took over first base and Mark Teixeira went on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

[60] He had two pinch-hit home runs in April, then went on the disabled list at the beginning of May with a quad strain and missed five weeks.

[66][67] For the 2014 season, Marcus Thames was named the hitting coach of the New York Yankees' Double-A affiliate the Trenton Thunder.

[68] Top Yankees prospect Rob Refsnyder credited Thames with helping him rework his swing that allowed him to have his breakout 2014 season.

After he joined the Yankees organization, Thames was granted leave and allowed to make up his Guard time in the offseason.