Trayce Thompson’s Journey: A Rollercoaster Season and a New Chapter with the New York Mets

Entering the 2023 season, Trayce Thompson had high hopes of building on his late-season success with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His unexpected return to the team had made him a valuable contributor down the stretch, and he was eager to make an impact from the start.

Thompson began the year by representing Great Britain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Although his performance was modest, hitting.214/.353/.500 with one double, one home run, and two RBI in 14 at-bats, the experience was a valuable opportunity to showcase his skills on an international stage.

Upon his return to the Dodgers after spring training, Thompson found himself in an outfield platoon, primarily facing left-handed pitching. However, he continued to struggle against right-handers, hindering his overall consistency at the plate.

Despite a promising start to the regular season, Thompson soon fell into a historic slump. He endured a stretch where he went hitless in 39 consecutive at-bats, a challenging period that tested his resilience. Fortunately, he managed to break out of the slump with a 4-for-6 stretch, showing signs of his potential.

Unfortunately, just as Thompson started to find his rhythm at the plate, he suffered a left oblique strain that placed him on the 15-day injured list on June 4. Initially expected to return quickly, his injury turned out to be more severe than anticipated, leading to his transfer to the 60-day IL on June 11.

After a lengthy recovery, Thompson began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City in late July. However, his time with the Dodgers came to an end as he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in a deal that involved Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn heading to L.A.

This trade marked the conclusion of Thompson’s second stint with the Dodgers. He had previously played for the team from 2016 to 2017 before returning in a trade from the Detroit Tigers in 2022.

Throughout the 2023 season, Thompson struggled, hitting a combined.163/.285/.294 with two doubles, six home runs, and 17 RBI in 72 games split between the Dodgers and White Sox. Despite his difficulties, he had a memorable highlight in his first game of the season, going 3-for-4 with three home runs and eight RBI against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This remarkable feat made him the first player in MLB history to achieve such a performance in their season debut since 1920.

Looking ahead to 2024, Thompson has signed a Minor League contract with the New York Mets, which includes a non-roster invitation to spring training. While he is likely to provide organizational depth, there is still a chance for him to make a return to the Majors if injuries occur or if he excels at the Triple-A level.

Trayce Thompson’s journey has been marked by ups and downs, but his determination and potential remain evident. As he embarks on a new chapter with the Mets, Thompson aims to seize any opportunity that comes his way and make a lasting impact in the MLB once again.