Slugger Thompson in ‘a better place’
Trayce Thompson launched nodoubt home runs twice in the first week of Cactus League play, immediately opening eyes in Diamondbacks spring training for the second consecutive year.
With right fielder Kole Calhoun out after knee surgery, Thompson, who is in camp on a minor league deal, has a clearer path to a potential big league job than at any point in the past two seasons.
Still, it was not a topic he cared to discuss with reporters. When asked about it, he apologized. He sounded as though he wanted to provide a satisfying answer. But he explained that thinking about his situation like that doesn’t line up with the way he tries to think about his career.
Given the highs and lows he has experienced, his mentality is understandable.
Five years ago, Thompson looked like a burgeoning major league talent. He had emerged with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a productive hitter in a crowded outfield. He appeared to be on a path toward stardom, similar to that of his older brother, Klay, a shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors.
But a back injury ended his season and, as it turned out, altered the trajectory of his career.
After a string of unproductive seasons splits between Triple-A and the majors, Thompson found himself looking for work. It was January 2020. Interest in his services had been sparse. He took batting practice in front of a Diamondbacks hitting coach when a thought crossed his mind.
“Coming from where I was a few years ago prior in LA, hitting in the middle of the lineup as a 25-year-old, I thought this is just crazy how quick things can turn,” Thompson said. “I’ve just learned to appreciate where I’m at and work for the day and not think too far ahead.”
Thompson is a little more than a week away from his 30th birthday. This spring, he has looked, in flashes, like the player he was in 2016, when his power bat forced its way into the Dodgers’ lineup. He looked like that last March, too, before the pandemic brought an end to spring training.
“It was really unfortunate the way the season went down and how we had to stop,” Thompson said. “That was probably the best I felt since 2016 when I was a Dodger. I felt like I was in good spot.”
Thompson said his struggles in recent years have offered lessons in a variety of ways. He believes he better understands everything from his mental approach to how to listen to his body.
“A lot has happened in my life,” he said. “I just feel like I’m in a better place the last couple of years. I think mentally more so than physically. I’m just in a clearer state of mind.”
Short hop
Right-hander Joakim Soria is expected to make his Cactus League debut on Sunday afternoon. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said right-hander Tyler Clippard will make his first appearance “in the coming days.”