Rachel Hill discusses Trayce Thompson, Klay Thompson, Michael Thompson and The Thompson Family Foundation’s great work off the court and away from the field.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a lot of success this season and are putting themselves in a position to win another World Series title.
On paper, the Dodgers are stacked and are a team opposing clubs don’t want to see during the postseason.
One player on the Dodgers has come a long way and now he has an opportunity to win his first World Series title.
Trayce Thompson has played exceptionally well this season and that’s a big reason why he is still on the roster.
When the season started, he was a member of the San Diego Padres, but he’s found his way back to the first-place Dodgers.
Thompson joined the team when Mookie Betts was out because of an injury and Thompson was going to be Betts’ replacement for the time being.
These 3 MLBbros Have Been Second Half Assassins | Shining In The Middle Of A Playoff Race
But with the success that Thompson has had, he has earned his keep on this Dodgers team.
He’s hitting .275 with seven home runs and 28 RBI on the season.
Whether he’s in the field or at the plate, Thompson has had some clutch moments and he’s become a fan favorite in L.A.
In a game against the Miami Marlins on August 20, Thompson made an impressive play in center field to help secure the win for the Dodgers.
“As an outfielder, any ball at the wall that you can pull down, it’s a good feeling to help your pitcher out there,” Thompson said in an article from mlb.com.
He can play any position in the outfield and he can play it at a high level.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has a lot of respect for Thompson’s game.
“He’s a clutch player,” Roberts said. “He’s a guy that’s been around for quite some time and really has an understanding now of who he is as a big league ballplayer. And he just has that ability, really, to slow the game down. Probably in his bloodline.”
Trayce Thompson rakes. pic.twitter.com/Xi1tjIxLU4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 28, 2022
Thompson comes from a family of winners. His brother Klay has four NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors and Tracye could become another champion in the family.
Tracye’s teammates love having him on the team and acknowledge how much work he puts in on and off the field.
“I talk to Trayce a lot and I’m just so happy for him and the success he’s having,” starting pitcher Tyler Anderson said. “He’s in a tough spot. He doesn’t get a chance to play every day and it’s awesome to see that. On the bench, we talk every day, and he just stays locked in, stays ready for whatever it’s going to be. If it’s a pinch-hit in the seventh and then he goes out and plays defense, or if he starts, I feel like he does a really good job staying in the moment.”
Thompson makes the most of every moment he has on that field and his hard work is starting to pay off. He’s going to continue to play a significant role for the Dodgers as the season comes to an end and as the postseason begins.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are on an epic run to distance themselves from their divisional rivals, the San Diego Padres. Remember about six weeks ago when the Padres had whittled the Dodgers’ NL West lead down to 1.5 games?
Well, the alarm clock sounded, and Los Angeles went on a winning streak that produced 19 wins in 21 contests. Not only have the Dodgers extended their division lead to 11.5 games, but they have pulled within percentage points from having the best record in baseball behind the New York Yankees.
But while All-Star, Mookie Betts deservedly commands the headlines in Dodger Nation…
It is well known in sports that midseason moves that stay under the radar can be the final piece to a championship team. MLBbro.com is starting to believe that Trayce Thompson is that piece if the Dodgers make it to the World Series in late September to early October.
Let’s check the scenario of the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to June 20 when Thompson arrived. The Dodgers were below .500 in a 17-game stretch with a 7-10 record that included losses to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cleveland Guardians and a painful sweep by the San Francisco Giants.
What made things worse, Mookie Betts was injured, and AJ Pollock was let go. When the Dodgers acquired our MLBbro from the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations, it was strictly a stopgap move to add outfield depth and considering his brother Klay had just won the NBA championship recently, a little PR marketing wouldn’t hurt either.
Trayce Thompson with the double and brother @KlayThompson loves it! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/r1dXZ9JG3Z
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2022
But Trayce Thompson has become more than just a fill-in for Mookie Betts or a cheap marketing stunt. Our MLBbro has become a factor that is not only a positive on the field but in the front office where checks are being written for this championship run.
To start, Thompson’s play has been so impressive that the franchise has options to protect their franchise player by allowing him time in the infield to protect his ribs if needed.
MLBbro Mookie Betts Shines In His Return…But Is A Position Change In The Works?
Starting with the 25 games that Thompson has played, he has shown he is the two-way player who can be on the postseason roster in a few months. His 0.5 oWAR, 0.3 dWAR, 115 wRC+ with four defensive runs saved shows that he can make plays that can affect games much like his superstar teammates.
Trayce Thompson goes into the stands for a wild grab! pic.twitter.com/jMvp2dFrgE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 24, 2022
His batting slashes of .284/.360/.493 with two homers and 13 RBI is exactly what the Dodgers are looking for with role players giving out maximum production that can be sustained at opportune times.
This production could change how much the Dodgers are willing to spend as we approach the trade deadline on August 2. With Juan Soto on the trading block after turning down a 15-year $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals, the Dodgers are one of the few franchises with the resources to acquire him.
But is it worth it to spend the type of money to get Soto and deplete the young talent coming in the future while Thompson is doing exactly what the franchise needs, and dominating baseball the past month, for a fraction of the price? Now the Dodgers have the option to get a less expensive left-handed hitter who feasts on left-handed pitching and can platoon with Thompson for the rest of the season into the playoffs.
While Trayce’s star is rising, humility has not left his DNA as he credits his coaches for his success via Dodgerblue.com.
“I know I was in Triple-A most of the year, or for a good chunk of the season, but I feel I’ve been in a good spot,” Thompson said… “And honestly, I feel like I have been searching a little bit here. But I feel like my at-bats have been a little consistent, but they can definitely get better.”
Trayce Thompson. That is all. pic.twitter.com/8RrUhLoQEW
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2022
“These guys have been awesome working with me. All three hitting coaches, and even a lot of other coaches just talking, just having conversations and obviously all these guys in the locker room. But in my opinion, it can get a lot better. I kind of strive for that every day.”
Our MLBbro and the Los Angeles Dodgers will see how long this relationship lasts particularly on August 3, the day after the trade deadline.
While NBA superstar Klay Thompson celebrated his fourth championship after two years of rehabbing career-threatening injuries, his MLBbro (literally) is also in the midst of a comeback story worth noting.
Trayce Thompson is reunited with the LA Dodgers. On Monday the Dodgers acquired Thompson from the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations. The 31-year-old spent time playing for the Tigers Triple-A affiliate, Toledo Mud Hens, before being traded and hit .299 with eight home runs and 19 RBI.
Thompson last played with the Dodgers in 2017 and with Mookie Betts out, Thompson will have the opportunity to make an impact while the Dodgers star is on the injured list.
During the 2016 season, he made his debut with the Dodgers and appeared in 80 games hitting .225 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI. This opportunity will be important for Thompson as he attempts to prove his value and showcase his abilities while he’s filling in for Betts. The fact that he is over 30 is also a sign that his career clock is ticking, so time is of the essence. The past few seasons have been a rollercoaster ride for Tracye and this opportunity could not have come at a better time.
Trayce, the brother of four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson, spent a brief period with the San Diego Padres this season, only appearing in six games and recording one hit in 14 at-bats. Now, he’s in a loaded Dodgers lineup where all he has to do is pick his spots and play his game.
He’s also drawn a lot of inspiration from his resilient brother Klay throughout the years and talked about what that was like in an article from masslive.com.
“He (Klay) hurt his Achilles when I was home, so I got to spend quite a bit of time with him,” Trayce said. “It was tough because he truly just loves basketball. He’s done a lot for himself in his career. There’s a lot he would give just to play basketball and so to see that be taken away from him for a couple years, it was pretty tough for everybody, but we’re just happy he’s healthy.”
“I similarly went on kind of a went out of the picture in my career, but obviously it wasn’t for injury,” he said. “But if there’s anybody to draw inspiration from to keep moving, it’s him. I’m just similar to him. The only thing I’ve loved, my one true love in this life is baseball. I’ve got a job now and I was in the big leagues for a little bit this year and I know I still have a lot left to offer, so I’m just trying to make the most of each day.”
From 2015 to 2018, Trayce had the opportunity to play in the majors for multiple teams, a dream come true. But after the 2018 season, he did not appear in the majors for two years and the grueling, unpredictable and unattractive minor league grind can take a toll on a player, especially after they already got to taste years of MLB action.
Now he’s back playing at the highest level and what’s even better is that he’s a part of a team that is one of the best in the league despite not having Betts. The Dodgers want Betts back and healthy for what will be an eventual playoff run, so Thompson will get his chance to shine and impact the Dodgers by helping to put the team in position to win games.
No pressure. Just a heck of an opportunity and brother Klay has already provided the inspiration to make this comeback Trayce’s best one yet.
Recent Comments