Dodgers: Despite Roster Security, Trayce Thompson Still Fighting to Prove Himself
Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson comes into spring training in a different situation than he's ever been in before. For the first time, he comes in on a guaranteed big-league contract and knows he has a roster spot. That's thanks to a solid season last year when Los Angeles brought him in to fill a two-week gap and he forced his way onto the roster for the rest of the season and beyond.
Still, despite the relative security of his situation, Thompson comes into camp hungry to prove and improve himself, as Cary Osborne writes for Dodger Insider.
“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.”
Thompson appreciates his very good season last year, but he's also keenly aware of areas in which it could have been better.
“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 in 36% of his plate appearances with Los Angeles last year. Put another way, his strikeout rate was slightly higher than that of Chris Taylor, whom LA manager Dave Roberts referred to as having an "alarming" strikeout rate during the season. And Thompson batted just .174 with a .621 OPS against lefties, the pitchers he was expected to mash. If Thompson really can improve his contact rate and his performance against lefties, he could have another excellent season even if his BABIP comes down from 2022's .389, as it probably will.
Thompson's situation is new to him, but he also knows just being on the team isn't the ultimate in security. He looks at some of his teammates who have earned the right to know they're starting from day one, and that becomes a goal for him.
“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.”
If a hungry Trayce is an improving Trayce, stay hungry, young man.
