Former Dodgers outfielder is dominating for Red Sox (and leading MLB) this spring

A former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder is slugging homers at an unbelievable pace for another team in the Grapefruit League this spring training.

Trayce Thompson has posted two stints with the Dodgers in his seven-year MLB career. He first appeared in Dodger Blue in 2016 after he was traded to LA alongside Micah Johnson and Frankie Montas. He played there until he was designated for assignment just before the 2018 season, and then returned in a trade for the second half of the 2022 slate.

Lately, Thompson has spent most of his playing time at Triple-A. He didn't appear in MLB in 2024 and only posted 72 big league games in 2023. Yet, the outfielder has slugged a league-leading six homers for the Boston Red Sox this spring.

Thompson is slashing .346/.514/1.115 with a 1.629 OPS in 13 spring games for the Red Sox. His has been one of the most surprising spring training performances in MLB, and he may be playing himself into a roster spot for Boston.

Former Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson is raking for the Red Sox in spring training

The Red Sox signed Thompson to a minor league deal in February to bring some right-handed outfield depth to their largely left-handed lineup. Although nothing is certain, he could get some early reps for the team as it deals with injuries to some of its outfielders. Masataka Yoshida is still rehabbing from shoulder surgery and his throwing progression is behind schedule, while Wilyer Abreu still hasn't been cleared for Grapefruit League action in the wake of a nasty stomach bug he had at the start of camp.

If Abreu or Yoshida need to begin the season on the injured list, Thompson could get another moment to show his stuff in the major leagues. He'll be up against top prospect Roman Anthony for the roster spot — the Red Sox are justifiably high on him — but Thompson's six homers and 13 RBI should give him a leg up in the potential position battle.

Thompson has appeared in parts of seven seasons in the majors, most of them with LA. He's batted .223/.319/.449 with a .768 OPS in four years with the Dodgers. He's also played for the White Sox (the team that drafted him), A's, Cubs and Padres in the big leagues.

But Thompson isn't hung up on where he'll play in 2025, and his love for baseball has endured through multiple trades, stints in the minor leagues, and DFAs. Hopefully, the former Dodger finds success wherever he lands.