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A year ago, Trayce Thompson, the younger brother of Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson, was a godsend for a Los Angeles Dodgers team that was shockingly lean in the outfield. Acquired in a cash transaction with the Detroit Tigers on June 20, Thompson hit .268/.364/.537 with 13 home runs in 74 games following the deal. It was by far his most successful MLB stint.
Thompson performed so well last year that the Dodgers felt comfortable putting Cody Bellinger at ease in the offseason and plugging Thompson in center field most of the time. On Saturday, Thompson pulled off his first start of the new season and responded with MLB’s first three-homer game of 2023. He went 3 for 4 with eight RBI in a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (LAD 10, ARI 1).
Thompson quickly broke open Saturday’s game with a first inning grand slam against Madison Bumgarner. He then hit a three-run shot against Kevin Ginkel in the fifth inning and a solo homer against Carlos Vargas in the eighth inning. Thompson also struckout in the third inning. These are his three home runs:
Only four other players have a multi-homer game this season: Colorado Rockies first baseman CJ Cron, Boston Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall, Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson and Texas Rangers DH Mitch Garver. Cron and Thompson are currently tied for the MLB lead with three home runs each.
Thompson is the eighth player in Dodgers franchise history with an eight RBI game. Only two players — James Loney and Hall of Famer Gil Hodges — have run more in a Dodgers uniform. Loney and Hodges each had a game with nine RBIs.
The Dodgers last played a three-homer game in 2020, when Mookie Betts took the honors against the San Diego Padres.
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