In 146 plate appearances, Thompson is hitting .297/.384/.563 for a .946 OPS that is 58 percent better than league average. None of this is new. Youre just trying to make the play, and lucky for us, we came out on the right side of it.. A Phoenix native, he originally interned at The Times before joining the staff in 2019. At the plate in the second, he launched the first pitch he saw from Rockies starter Chad Kuhl 430 feet to center. Hed always been doing his own thing and baseballs nonstop calendar never afforded him a chance to be there. I dont know if it was just because it was at the end of the game or whatever, but I didnt feel fast running for it, said Thompson. Learned to be efficient with my packing.. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Thats what it comes down to.. Join our linker program. When I was here first in 2016, I got hurt right at the beginning of July. After last years season-long struggle to find consistency off the bench, its a luxury for the Dodgers to be able to give Mookie a day off once in a while and know they have a player like Thompson ready to take his place. [7], On December 16, 2015, Thompson, along with Micah Johnson and Frankie Montas, were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox and Jos Peraza, Brandon Dixon and Scott Schebler to the Cincinnati Reds. I'm so proud to be his brother., I feel like mine was more physical and his was more mental, Trayce says. Trayce Thompson had a .256 average last season and a .221 average over his career. Hell have the opportunity, like never before, to step outside that Klay Thompson-sized shadow hes lived under this last decade. Did Trayce get hurt? I wasnt able to control that inside part of the zone.. Draft: Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft from Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA). March 15, 1991 [21], On December 1, 2018, Thompson signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians, who released him on August 2, 2019. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. He was so excited., Trayce smiles as I read it back to him. He also had many self talks, trying to replenish his psyche with confidence and conviction.. I want him to achieve everything, Trayce says. [3] On September 14, 2021, the Cubs selected Thompson's contract. Tennis DFS Projections and Ownership for DraftKings and FanDuel, PGA DFS Optimizer Picks Arnold Palmer Invitational: Jordan Spieth at a Ball Striking Venue is a Lock. in Los Angeles, CA [34][35] He is a childhood friend of Nolan Arenado. That was a play we needed, Roberts said. He made a strong impression when he was here, Friedman said. When youre 31 at Triple A, you can see that sometimes. When the Dodgers acquired outfielder Trayce Thompson from the Tigers in late June, his role was pretty clear: help hold down the fort while Mookie Betts was on the injured list with a fractured rib. Season 2022. And on the games final, fateful play, he sprinted 83 feet in 4.6 seconds to make a game-ending grab that, according to Statcast, had a 35 percent catch probability. Trayce grins. Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA). October 15, 2022 | 00:00:38. August 4, 2015 The youngest son of Los Angeles Lakers great Mychal Thompson, Trayce Thompsons early minor-league performance never quite matched the hype of his second-round pick (2009) status. [28] On May 10, he was designated for assignment but he declined the assignment and elected free agency. Back in the summer of 2021, Thompson and his fianc Jillian secretly had a baby. Several valleys later, Thompson is back in L.A. and making the most of his return to the majors. Hes made the most of his opportunity, with the most recent example coming in two consequential moments Friday. After stops in L.A., Oakland, Chicago, San Diego, and a half dozen minor league teams, Trayce is back with the Dodgers, where he has found an MLB home. I probably shouldnt be talking about this, but we can get physical and were not gonna get hurt, because we know each other, Trayce says. [23] He re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a minor league deal on November 2, 2020 but played in only four games for the Triple-A Reno Aces in 2021, going 5-18. Seeing him go after it day by day I was so proud and happy for him.. The Dodgers liked Thompson, who grew up in Orange County, enough to ask for his inclusion in a three-team trade that offseason that brought Todd Frazier to the White Sox from the Cincinnati Reds. Straight on, its hard to spot the resemblance, but in profile, hes a dead-ringer for Klay. Manage Settings Im glad Im in the spot I am now. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. He spent the entire season at the alternate site. As a result, Thompson rarely checks the schedule more than a few days ahead of time. Hes absolutely terrible with his phone. Trayce Thompson Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | MLB.com | baseballsavant.com LF | B/T: R/R | 6' 3" 225LBS | Age: 31 Draft: 2009 | Rd: 2, #61, Chicago White Sox | Santa Margarita HS Player Apps Pitch Highlighter | Player Similarity | Shifts | Swing Take Profile | illustrator | Zone Swing Profile | Player Comparison | Transaction History document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We will never share your email with anyone. His next couple years werent much better: A self-admitted disaster in 2018, when he batted just .117 in 51 games with the As and White Sox; a mediocre 2019 season with Clevelands triple-A affiliate; and a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign spent entirely at the Diamondbacks alternate training site. After a dream resurgence in the major leagues last season, Trayce Thompson has even bigger goals in mind for 2023. [3] In 2012, Thompson moved up through the White Sox farm system starting with the Winston-Salem Dash of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League, then moved up to the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League and the Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And on the games final, fateful play, he sprinted 83 feet in 4.6 seconds to make a game-ending grab that, according to Statcast, had a 35 percent catch probability. [3], On May 11, 2021, Thompson was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. Trayce Nikolas Thompson (born March 15, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). To get two rings. Every hair on my body stood up, the former Lakers center recalled recently. He is the brother of NBA players Klay Thompson and Mychel Thompson and the son . Since 2018, Thompson, who previously played for the Dodgers from 2016 to 2017, has been designated for assignment five times, granted free agency three times, claimed off waivers and traded twice and released once. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. He produced a solid season at Triple-A Columbus, hitting 24 homers, but never had an opportunity with Cleveland and was released Aug. 1. Wasnt there a tinge of resentment when Klay won a ring right before his MLB debut? This is baseball, not basketball, so a half-decade moving up isnt rareGriffey and ARod of the those Thompson childhood Mariners teams being notable exceptions. Mychal immediately recognized the significance, knowing all too well the sentiments his son had with the organization the blue keepsakes hed saved in their storage unit for all those years. Trayce Nikolas Thompson (born March 15, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Get rid of Gallo. Welcome to the game outside the game! Dodgers @ Padres. Before that, he covered the Angels, the Kings and almost everything else the L.A. sports scene had to offer. Trayce, right, with brothers Klay and Mychel in 2017. It would be awesome, man., Two week later, I ask Klay the same question. For Trayce, that meant doing a deep dive on his declining performance, trying to pinpoint where he had gone astray. Everybody wants to be there in person as opposed to over the phone or FaceTime or Skyping, Mychal Thompson said. Trayce Thompson and his fiance Jillian quietly had a baby, and now we have some photographic evidence of the Baby Thompson. I'm really excited for him to finally get his taste of postseason baseball, Klay says. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. I had too much sense of urgency, probably tried to to do too much, Thompson said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Hernndez: Dodgers should trade for Juan Soto and avoid mistake Angels made with Mike Trout, MLB to Congress: Without our antitrust exemption, players and fans lose, Another Trevor Bauer defamation suit is thrown out, Who could replace Gavin Lux? After being cut by the team two years later, he struggled to find another steady home in the majors, bouncing around eight organizations as a journeyman Class AAA player. High School: Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), Debut: I do think the numbers versus left will correct itself a little bit and hopefully the numbers versus right dont self-correct either. He is outplaying Gallo and Taylor. I really struggled versus the fastball., Thompson still managed strong numbers overall, but he knows crushing lefties [is] the whole reason I got traded here.. Reflecting back on all the change recently, Thompson couldnt help but sigh. Dan Hayes is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Minnesota Twins. Jeff wrote and edited for Baseball Essential for years before joining Dodgers Nation. pic.twitter.com/yJTFAzIspp. Five days later, Trayce Thompson is celebrating a signature moment of his own. Trayce was on the other end of the line. PHOENIX After a dream resurgence in the major leagues last season, Trayce Thompson has even bigger goals in mind for 2023. Well, hes pretty good at pool, Trayce admits. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses. I remember when I first got to the big leagues, these environments didn't seem like too much for me. [25] On November 3, 2021, Thompson was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency two days later. You cant ask for anything better than this, to play here in L.A. for a great team like the Dodgers, who have a chance to get to the Series. Its been a mental grind.. And then another right before this renaissance in LA? He likes his newfound perspective on the game and understands why the clich control what you can control is important. Miguel Rojas left the Dodgers spring game Sunday with a right foot and calf cramp after limping into first base on a third-inning single against the Cubs. Required fields are marked *. Follow us on our Sideaction Twitter handle, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest on sports and pop culture news across the web! Hes smart enough to know that, one piece of value that he can add for our club, is to be more productive versus left-handed pitching.. Biographical Information []. Gallo hasnt impressed me Trace Thompson has alot going on. After squeezing the baseball in his glove, his momentum took him all the way into the netting above the wall as he deftly eluded the retreating ballboy. Perhaps it meant more because Trayce was celebrating his big brothers first title after the long mental and physical grind that sidelined Klay for nearly three years. Thompson was designated for assignment by the Padres on Tuesday, and he'll choose to become a . Trayce Thompson is happy to be back with the Dodgers even if his trip back to Los Angeles has been a long trek. pic.twitter.com/GIOLqOusaX. Thompson, though, knows the fleeting nature of MLB success. I want to be here, I want to be a Dodger, and I want to solidify a role and everything, he said. On a 1-0 pitch, the kid they used to call Bamm-Bamm sends a fastball 424 feet into the left field bleachers giving the Dodgers a 9-4 lead. Klay was gutted when Trayce got the news about his back, but it only was when he faced his own adversitymissing consecutive seasons with a torn ACL and then a torn Achillesthat he fully understood his brothers grueling stretch. 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational First Round Leader Picks: Rickie Fowler Time! Dodgers' Trayce Thompson: Inks one-year deal. He aggravated a back injury that July. Fridays win was a case in point. I knew they were going to win Game 6, Trayce Thompson said. [17] The Athletics designated him for assignment on April 17, 2018. 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