Trayce Thompson entered the 2023 season looking to build on a successful end to the previous campaign after unexpectedly returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers and becoming a contributor down the stretch.
Thompson began the year by representing Great Britain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He hit .214/.353/.500 with one double, one home run and two RBI in 14 at-bats as the team was eliminated in the first round of pool play.
Thompson returned to the Dodgers at the end of Spring Training and was part of a platoon in the outfield. He received most of his opportunities against left-handed pitching, but once again fared better against right-handers.
After getting off to an excellent start during the regular season, Thompson fell into a historic slump. At one point he went hitless in 39 consecutive at-bats before bouncing back with a 4-for-6 stretch.
As Thompson started to heat up at the plate, he was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 4 due to a left oblique strain. The Dodgers initially expected he to only be out a brief period, but the 32-year-old’s injury was more severe than first believed.
Thompson was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 11. He was sidelined until the end of July, when he began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
However, Thompson did not appear in another game with the Dodgers as he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in the deal that sent Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn to L.A.
The trade marked the end of Thompson’s second stint with the Dodgers. He originally played for the team from 2016-2017 before returning to the organization in a trade from the Detroit Tigers in 2022.
Thompson hit a combined .163/.285/.294 with two doubles, six home runs and 17 RBI in 72 games between the Dodgers and White Sox. Over parts of four seasons with the Dodgers, he batted .223/.319/.449 with 27 doubles, two triples, 32 home runs and 87 RBI in 217 games.
Trayce Thompson 2023 highlight
In his first game of the season on April 2, Thompson went 3-for-4 with three home runs and eight RBI against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Thompson became the first player in MLB history to have eight or more RBI in his first appearance of the season since the stat became official in 1920.
2024 outlook
Thompson signed a Minor League contract with the New York Mets that includes a non-roster invitation to 2024 Spring Training. He will likely continue serving as organizational depth but could return to the Majors at some point if there is an injury or finds success at the Triple-A level.
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