The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Trayce Thompson with the hope he would provide a boost against left-handed pitching, but much of his success has come against righties, something the 31-year-old believes will begin to even out.
In 54 games since joining the Dodgers, Thompson is batting .293/.389/.564 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 29 RBI and a 167 wRC+. Against righties, he has a 224 wRC+ and 1.170 on-base plus slugging percentage. However, Thompson has only managed an 86 wRC+ and .662 OPS when facing left-handers.
With the Dodgers dealing for Joey Gallo at the trade deadline, Thompson’s opportunities against righties became more limited, and regardless of the reverse splits. And despite the drastic reverse splits thus far, the 31-year-old is confident he’ll begin to find more success against left-handed pitching.
“I think I can hit both. I know I can, actually,” Thompson recently said. “I feel like I’ve just been in a better spot this year. Just overall, I know Triple-A isn’t the big leagues, but baseball is baseball. I feel like I’ve been in a good spot. I feel like I’m just scratching the surface.
“I know my lefty numbers aren’t great right now. It’s going to get better. I’ve just got to stick with the process. These guys have been awesome with me. Making some adjustments, and I feel like it’s going to come. I’ve just got to keep grinding it out. In my opinion, I can hit both. I feel like Doc has given me some runway with righties and lefties also, so I’ve just got to go out there and continue to have quality at-bats.”
Since being traded to the Dodgers for cash considerations, he’s been with the team during a 46-12 run that has placed them firmly in control with the best record in MLB. With the club playing their best baseball, Thompson has elevated his game to some of the best in his career.
“I feel good. I’ve felt good all year. But like I’ve said, I think there’s more in the tank. I need to be more consistent, I still need to cut down my strikeouts and I need to start hitting lefties better. It’s going to happen,” said Thompson. I’ve just got to stick at it and keep grinding at it every day. I believe myself.
“I’m just fortunate to have this opportunity to go out and just kind of showcase myself and really help these guys win games. At the end of the day it’s about winning and helping these guys win. So whenever my name is called, that’s all I want to.”
Thompson’s latest opportunity against a lefty came Sunday night, when he delivered a pinch-hit, three-run home run to effectively ice the game for the Dodgers in their 9-4 win over the San Diego Padres.
Dave Roberts: Trayce Thompson a ‘clutch’ player
Since being acquired from the Detroit Tigers, Thompson has had many key moments in a Dodgers uniform in just a few months.
In their Aug. 19 game against the Miami Marlins, he hit a two-out, RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning that tied a game the Dodgers won. It included Thompson making an impressive catch for the first out in the ninth.
“He’s a clutch player,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said of Thompson. “He’s a guy that’s been around for quite some time and really has an understanding now of who he is as a big league ballplayer. He just has that ability to slow the game down. It’s probably in his bloodline.”
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