Trayce Thompson embraces the opportunity

Trayce Thompson (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Cary Osborne

For 13 Spring Trainings, Trayce Thompson always had the same thought.

After giving the Dodgers a jolt in the second-half of the 2022 season and being a starting outfielder in the National League Division Series, things have not changed in his 14th — even with the departure of Cody Bellinger presenting new opportunity in the Dodger outfield.

“I only know one way, and that’s to go out and make a team and fight for every opportunity I could possibly get,” Thompson said. “I know that I’m going to be on the team. But at the same time, I don’t think that my mentality has really changed. I’m out here to try to prove myself every day.”

The Dodgers have seven outfielders from the 40-man roster in Spring Training camp, including David Peralta, who they signed on Thursday.

They have another six non-roster invites, including former All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner Jason Heyward.

Thompson comes into camp with the attitude that nothing is owed — even for a player who in the second-half of 2022 had the sixth-best slugging percentage (.570) and ninth-best OPS (.947) in all of baseball.

The 31-year-old outfielder is, in fact, self-critical of his run with the Dodgers last year.

“I knew I could do it last year. I feel like people know that it’s in there after last year. Obviously, people saw it, but I think there’s more in the tank. My opinion is I didn’t have that great of a year,” Thompson said. “I didn’t hit lefties at all. I punched out way too high of a rate. And so I think there’s a lot to improve on, and I know I’m going to, so I’m excited to see what the year has in store.”

Thompson struck out 36% of the time with the Dodgers last season — up from his career average of 28.2% coming into the year. He batted .188 and struck out 42.2% of the time vs. left-handers.

But his 1.048 OPS vs. right-handers led the Dodgers, and his .320 average was second behind Freddie Freeman.

Overall, Thompson had the best statistical year of his six-year big league career.

Thompson is in his 14th professional season. The previous two saw him wear seven different uniforms, including with five minor league clubs.

He began 2022 as a non-roster invite to Padres Spring Training camp, was designated by the Padres organization in May and picked up by the Tigers organization in May. A month later, the Dodgers acquired Thompson from the Tigers for cash.

After the production he gave the Dodgers, in his second go-around with the club, the cash transaction has been viewed by the public as a bargain. Thompson has no idea how much cash was involved in the transaction. He was just enthused to return to the Dodgers, who he played with in 2016 and 2017.

“It happens all the time in baseball. You never know when your opportunities are going to happen. I was initially traded in 2015 for Todd Frazier — for an All-Star,” Thompson said. “And so then, next thing you know I’m traded for some shampoo or something. I was just happy to be back.”

Thompson said he had a feeling the 2022 season would be positive. He made a few mechanical adjustments heading into last season that eventually carried him to an impactful stretch with the Dodgers, where he ended up starting 51 games and appearing in 72. He started all four games of the NLDS — two in left field, two in center field.

Now he finds himself in a familiar position — competing for an opportunity in Spring Training.

“I think it’s a privilege and a luxury when you get to have that feeling like 5 (Freddie Freeman) and 50 (Mookie Betts). You know where you’re going to be, and I haven’t earned that,” Thompson said. “So I have to go out and prove myself every day. And that’s just kind of been my norm in my career. So there’s nothing stressful or anxious for me. It’s just, it is what it is. I kind of embrace being the guy that’s kind of counted against. For me, I just try to go out and earn my way every single day and try and go make noise every single day.”