Dodgers News: Trayce Thompson Reacts to the End of Horrendous Slump
The wait is over for Trayce Thompson. After 21 games, 44 plate appearances, and 40 days, Thompson got a base hit in a game. The slumping Dodger outfielder connected on an RBI single against Tampa Bay Rays starter Josh Fleming and felt the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.
The Dodger bench erupted.
“I was expecting a champagne toast like when Freddie hit 300 or when Kersh got his 200th win,” Thompson joked after the game.
The floodgates opened for Thompson who collected two more hits in the game including his 5th home run of the season. It’s the first time he’s had multiple hits in one game since his first game of the season.
“I knew it was coming. You can’t do all this work and do all this stuff and all this preparation without believing and having conviction and all that and just going out there and just playing the game. But it’s been hard for me. I think last year I remember I was on a tough stretch and then I got on base for nine or 10 straight at-bats. This game is tough. You’ve just got to keep going.”
Via OC Register
The game is tough is an understatement. Trayce went 75 plate appearances between multi-hit games, hitting just .066 with a .355 OPS over that stretch. He’s opened up about the toll his struggles have taken on him mentally over the last few weeks. But, through it all, he’s maintained a positive outlook.
“You’re gonna have stretches where you’re not good,” Thompson said last week. “Everyone goes through it. But you’ve just got to prepare each day like it’s a new day, be optimistic. Have that perspective of, ‘I’m due,’ as opposed to woe is me.”
Dave Roberts will keep giving the veteran chances against left-handed pitching. That’s his “niche that he’s got to fulfill,” according to Doc. And boy does the team need him to do that. The Dodger bench has been horrendous this season. Not one of the regulars off the bench is hitting above .250. If Thompson has truly broken out of his slump and can produce a clip closer to what he did last year, that would be massive.
Trayce Thompson entered today on 0-for-39 slump.
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) May 28, 2023
Today he’s gone 3-for-3 with a homer and 2 RBI.
pic.twitter.com/7jkFvXGNR9
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