Dodgers: Trayce Thompson Highlights, Grades and More | 2022 Year in Review
Welcome to part nine of the annual Dodgers Nation player grades and season reviews, this time for the 2022 season. Up next in the series is the man the Dodgers got for cash considerations, Trayce Thompson. Check out the full series here.
Two words come to mind when I think of Trayce Thompson and his 2022 season. The first one is cash. The second one is considerations.
The Dodgers acquired Thompson from the Detroit Tigers in June when Mookie Betts went on the injured list. To get him in L.A., they had to send back cash considerations. That turned out to be cash well spent.
Thompson burst onto the scene for L.A., hitting 13 home runs and 39 RBIs in 205 at-bats. This was his second stint in Los Angeles, and it turned out to be much better than his first. Thompson’s play earned him plenty of starts down the stretch, and even in the postseason. He, like most of the team, struggled in the NLDS, getting just two hits in 13 at-bats. But his 2022 season in Los Angeles was about as storybook as they come.
Fan Vote Results
Dodger fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Thompson’s 2022 season with the Dodgers. Here are the results:
Next up in our 2022 grades series!??
How would you grade Trayce Thompson's season as a whole?#DNpolls #2022LADgrades #Dodgers— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 28, 2022
Of the 2,0000 fans who voted in the Dodgers Nation Twitter poll, a whopping 56.4% gave him a B.
Dodgers Nation Take
Giving Thompson an A feels possible, especially considering the low expectations he had when he got to Los Angeles. If he had a strong NLDS, I probably would’ve considered giving him an A- (or in this poll, an A). But since he struggled in the postseason, I think a B is fair. I probably would give him a B+, but obviously, we can’t put that many options on a Twitter poll, so a B will do.
Thompson lasting the entire season on the roster and making the postseason squad should be more than enough to warrant him getting a B. When the Dodgers acquired him, we weren’t even sure how much he was going to play. When Betts was healthy, it easily could’ve spelled the end of his time with the Dodgers. But instead, his play kept him on the team and even earned him a pretty major role moving forward. But we’ll get to that next.
What’s Next
So about that major role moving forward, as of right now, Thompson is looking like the everyday center fielder for the 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers. He may platoon with someone like James Outman or even Miguel Vargas (who would play in left and Chris Taylor would move to center), but it does seem like the Dodgers are expecting a big season out of the soon-to-be 32-year-old.
You have to feel happy for Thompson, as his career felt all but over after struggling to stick around with the Padres and Tigers early in 2022. But instead, he’s now with one of the best teams in baseball, and will be taking over a center field that was manned by Cody Bellinger for the last few seasons. Big opportunities will be in Trayce’s future — hopefully, he’s up for the challenge.
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If the Dodgers were really into progress from Thompson, they would send him to Driveline, along with Chris Taylor, and see if there is a way to cut down on their strikeouts. Taylor is easy; quit trying to hit home runs with that all or nothing uppercut. I think Thompson just needs help on pitch location and recognition. A lot of his strikeouts were at pitches outside in the dirt that he couldn’t have hit unless he was standing on the plate or opposite batters box. He is mainly a line drive hitter but still has enough sock to hit the occasional bomb. Hitting the pitch is the issue. He either doesn’t see it well or doesn’t recognize what is being thrown. Both of those can be fixed with guidance and repetition. Everybody doesn’t always have to be swinging for the fence. In fact the Dodgers need baserunners more than anything. They have plenty of guys who can knock them in, including Thompson if he can just hit the ball more often.
Trayce did a good job last year, but to be the starting center fielder next year would be a big mistake. Dodgers need a player with credentials of past year to qualify. Thompson good fill in but not starter. The one sill on the team would be Taylor or even the rookie Outman!!!