The Los Angeles Dodgers have seven players from their 40-man roster representing them in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and among them is Trayce Thompson, who is playing for Team Great Britain.
Thompson was born and raised in Southern California, but his father Mychal is from The Bahamas, making him eligible to represent the British team.
Mychal is a former NBA player who played five of his 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning back-to-back championships in 1987-88. He is now the team’s radio color commentator.
Thompson wears No. 25 with the Dodgers but donned No. 43 for Great Britain in honor of his father and The Bahamas, via Jesse Borek of MLB.com:
“He’s my hero. He’s my idol,” Trayce said of his father. “I was choosing between that and 28 because my uncle Colin was a big-time baseball player in the Bahamas – he wore 28. “43 will always be a special number in my opinion. It’s to honor my dad and everyone in the Bahamas.”
Great Britain played in its first WBC but were eliminated from Pool C at Chase Field with a 1-3 record. Thompson got off to a strong start but cooled a bit and wound up batting .214/.353/.500 with one double, one home run and two RBI in 14 at-bats over four World Baseball Classic games.
Thompson returned to the Dodgers last year in a trade with the Detroit Tigers after previously playing parts of the 2016-17 seasons with L.A. In 74 games, he hit .268/.364/.537 with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 39 RBI across 239 plate appearances.
What role will Trayce Thompson have with Dodgers in 2023?
Center field remains one of the Dodgers’ biggest question marks, and Thompson is among the candidates who could potentially take over starting duties this season.
Jason Heyward also figures to see time at the position, but because of Thompson’s reverse splits last season, they may not form an ideal platoon.
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