Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Fans Share Their Feelings Towards Thompson’s Role This Season

The answer to who will be the Dodgers’ everyday starting center fielder still remains a mystery. After the Dodgers non-tendered former MVP and Rookie of the Year, Cody Bellinger, in mid-November, it was obvious that Belli’s days in Dodger blue were numbered. Cody ended up signing with the Chicago Cubs, and with that came a significant hole that needs to be filled at centerfield for L.A.

The Dodgers have plenty of options, whether trading for a proven/All-Star level center fielder or giving someone in-house the opportunity to take over the role.



Los Angeles was interested in the glove of former Tampa Bay Ray Kevin Kiermaier, but it would’ve been more of the same for L.A. in the past three seasons; great glove, lousy bat. Instead, the Blue Jays were willing to give Kiermaier more money, so Toronto was it.

L.A. also can trade for Pirates All-Star Bryan Reynolds, but the price seems too hefty.

The Dodgers’ in-house options look more and more likely as we get closer to Opening Day. Trayce Thompson and James Outman are currently on the 40-man roster, and the offseason signings of Jason Heyward and Steven Duggar could be options even though they were signed to minor-league deals.

We posted a poll on our Twitter page asking Dodger fans who they think will emerge as the everyday center-fielder, and the results were riveting.

Trayce Thompson was quite a surprise in 2022. Thompson was not even on the Opening Day roster for L.A. but became a Dodger after Mookie Betts had to miss some time due to injury and was excellent in filling the role.

He continued to play good baseball even after Mookie returned from injury and posted a .901 OPS in 205 ABs in 2022. Towards the end of the season, Thompson finished with a strikeout rate of 36%, higher than Chris Taylor’s 35.2% rate.

James Outman came out the gate and set Dodger fans into a frenzy over him. He’s young and flashy but has minimal time in the major leagues. He’s hit very well in the minors and plays good defense, so he’ll undoubtedly spend more time in the major leagues in 2023.

Jason Heyward was one of the best outfielders of his day, but those days seem long gone. However, he is experienced, and if the Dodgers can squeeze whatever is left in him, he can get some play time in the outfield in the majors.

It’ll only be a matter of time before we find out who will become the permanent center-fielder for the Dodgers.

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Ricardo Sandoval

Born and Raised in the East side of Los Angeles. Ricardo is a staff writer at Dodgers Nation and on the LA Sports Report network of sites. He's also a lifelong Dodgers and Lakers fan. Ricardo is an alumnus of CSUN (Go Matadors).

14 Comments

    1. I think J.T. became busy with other things , all good things I’m sure , but he lost focus on baseball .He started 2022 out of shape and was lousy , he came back some in the second half of the season and then choked in the post season ., same as the whole team.
      50+ years of following the Dodgers and as I fan I want to watch the team win . Like all LA fans . So , I don’t blame the front office for implementing a new look and / or youth movement after the brief 2022 post season showing .
      Community involvement is fantastic , bowling 300 is impressive , hosting golf tournaments is admiral. If a player does these , or other things , and still plays at a championship caliber level , then great , but ,.In my opinion the Dodgers got lazy about baseball , focused on other things and then got humiliated in a one series post season.
      It will be strange not seeing JT on the team in 2023 , he was a great Dodger .
      I am excited to see the new , more motivated , hungrier roster on the field this year .

      1. I agree with you 100%. I have been pointed out some of your exact reasons from the the day they were stunningly eliminated by the Padres. They got complacent and arrogant after 111 wins, a no. 1 seed, and thinking they could just walk through the WS. It starts with the team leader or captain, if he’s unproductive and feeling sorry for himself, the rest of the team picks up on that energy. FO feels a new culture is needed after two years of similar frustrating postseasons.

  1. Outman in LF. Chris Taylor in CF. Betts in RF. The Bucs want too much for Reynolds.

  2. Agree with Andy and also Roberts and Friedman make lousy moves. You don’t remove your starting pitcher after 5 dominating innings with the lead that would have tied the series and force game 5 at Dodger Stadium.

  3. I’m ok with a youth movement. It could be fun. But let’s not give the front office a pass just yet. Remember the front office didn’t do anything at the trade deadline to help the the team. Yes they won 111 games, but first the western division was weak and they didn’t play eastern division in inter league. So I say there’s your 10 to 15 extra wins. And we all know Puppet Manager Roberts s not a manager who can out coach another coach. I just hope that if the kids perform well that the front office gets what ever help is needed at the trade deadline. That extra little kick always helps

  4. Is Chris Taylor the new Dodger spokesman ? He played like CRAP most of the season, along with the idiot manager we have.

  5. Everything mentioned above is true, lowsy decision making ruined the 2022, 2023 we might win 75 games.

  6. Can’t use analytics in the playoffs. Not effective when every game is against another playoff team. Odds don’t compute.

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