Dodgers OF Trayce Thompson’s ‘long journey’ continues with 1,263-foot home runs

news7g04/02/2023

3 5 minutes read

Dodgers OF Trayce Thompson's 'long journey' continues with 1,263-foot home runs

LOS ANGELES – At first, a curtain call didn’t make it through Trayce Thomsonmind.

After the last of his three career-highest home runs in the first game of the season on Saturday night, the humble midfielder jogged back home at Dodger Stadium when 48,886 fans urged him to return. As a child, he dreamed of performances and he remembers seeing them years ago at this same location during the beginning of Yasiel Puig’s career, but it took him a while to realize it. realize that their achievements are equally deserved.

Finally coaxed by teammates Freddie Freeman And Tony Gonsolin as cheers fell, Thompson jogged up the dugout steps and raised his hands in the air to thank the crowd in the eighth inning of the match. Dodgers‘ Win 10-1 first Diamondbacks.

“He tends to be the shy guy,” teammate Austin Barnes speak. “But it was a special moment.”

Back in his locker, 150 texts from family and friends light up Thompson’s cell phone. They know what it means for him to get his chance last season in Los Angeles, five years after his previous stint with the Dodgers.

In between the final blow of his first spell with the Dodgers on 1 October 2017 and his return to the club on 20 June 2022, when he was acquired from Detroit Tigers In exchange for the cash consideration, Thompson ended up with eight different franchises. He fought back from a broken back and “bottoming” to influence the Dodgers last season, reaching 146 OPS+ in 74 games.

“Everybody knows my journey and it’s been a long one,” Thompson said. “Being back here means a lot to me. However, I know I can do it.”

Dodgers’ Trayce Thompson beats his third home game

He proved it last year, though his success includes an oddity. Right-handed players were brought in specifically to hit lefties. Instead, he took out right-handed pitchers (1,010 OPS in 159 disc appearances) and grappled with southern pitchers (0.621 OPS in 96 disc appearances).

The Dodgers believe the opposite split is an anomaly. He entered five in an off-field platoon, expected to play at the center against leftists as a rookie. James Outman started most of the matches against the right wing.

“He understands his role on the team,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Obviously he’s shown he can pitch right-handed, so it’s not one of those things – it’s just the way our squad is built.”

The Dodgers maintained their faith, even after Thompson stumbled in the spring.

In between his time at World Classic Baseball play for England, he won 3 to 35 at the Cactus League game. More interestingly, he got 0 to 14 on a left-handed pitch. Roberts thinks the struggles may have begun to frustrate Thompson, but the midfielder insists he is not panicking.

After all, Thompson was 2 to 20 last spring with Padres San Diego before enjoying a year of a career with the Dodgers.

“I can imagine that I’m the worst spring training player here,” Thompson said. “I hit two hits last year in spring training and had the best year of my career. You just get through it, stick to the process, and know the environment is different. “

The day before the 2023 season began, Thompson went to Dodger Stadium on the team’s day off to continue training with the club’s renowned coaches. He likes where he is, but patience is required. He did not appear in the first two games of the year for the Dodgers.

When his time comes, it will be against a familiar face.

During Thompson’s transition from team to team in the years leading up to his boom last season, he was at one point teammates with veteran Diamondbacks Madison Bumgarner. Thompson enjoyed a promising spring in Arizona in 2020 before the pandemic hit, and he spent the year at the Diamondbacks’ alternate training site.

He was 1–8 of his career ahead of Bumgarner when he stepped onto the plate with bases loaded on Saturday in front of his former classmate. He watched a curved ball fall to strike. Then, on his first swing of the season, Thompson hit a 406-foot reverse hang for the second major hit of his career, giving the starter Clayton Kershaw a comfortable lead that he won’t give up.

Trayce Thompson crushes a big blow

“It’s not easy to sit on the bench, facing lefties, first game of the season, the facilities are loaded,” Kershaw said after scoring nine out of six frames. “There’s a lot going on right there. And so it’s pretty impressive for him to do that swing to start the year. He’s always prepared.

“On the other hand, he’s just a great guy. So it’s nice to see him achieving success after the journey he’s been through. There couldn’t be a better start than that, so that’s it. So great.”

Thompson won’t discriminate on a night where he hit a total of 1,263 feet of value. After going up against a 33-year-old left-hander in Bumgarner, he knocked out a 29-year-old right-hander Kevin Ginkel went deep with a three-lane homer in the fifth inning and secured the draw with the third game taking out the 23-year-old right-handed rookie Carlos Vargas in eighth.

OTHER Trayce Thompson Belts

In doing so, Thompson joined Gil Hodges and Adrian González as the only Dodgers ever to hit the home three times and take down eight times in a single game. Before Saturday, Thompson had never scored more than four RBIs in a game.

“What a special night,” Roberts said. “Couldn’t be happier for Trayce. Spring training was tough for him, but when the lights came on it was the best swing he’s done since last year.”

Thompson’s performance was so remarkable that it prompted his manager to create a new rule, a different one from the platoon that the Dodgers usually favored.

“If you hit three hosts, you’ll be there the next day,” says Roberts.

Rowan Kavner covers the Dodgers and NL West for FOX Sports. Previously he was the editor of digital and print publications of the Dodgers. Follow him on Twitter at @Rowan Kavner.

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