Trayce Thompson Stats & Scouting Report

AB	224
AVG	.228
OBP	.3
SLG	.5
HR	16

Full name Trayce Nikolas Thompson
Born 03/15/1991 in Los Angeles, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Santa Margarita Catholic
Debut 08/04/2015
Drafted in the 2nd round (61st overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2009 (signed for $625,000).

View Draft Report

Thompson is the son of Mychal Thompson, the former NBA star who played on several Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship clubs in the 1980s, and the bloodlines show. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound outfielder, Thompson has terrific bat speed, and his future power potential is exciting. He has a great frame that's both athletic and projectable, and his arm strength is impressive. The primary drawbacks are his instincts and feel for the game. He has the look of a player who is relatively new to baseball and is still learning the basics. He often hesitates in the outfield and won't attempt to throw out runners trying to advance, or will defer to other fielders on balls hit in the gaps. Thompson generates terrific bat speed, but his swing is long on the back end and his timing is affected by his habit of pulling out his front side too quickly. Thompson's selection in this draft would be made on potential alone. If he goes to UCLA, develops his skills and gains experience, he would likely be a much higher pick in 2012.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The 2009 draft class won't go down as the finest in White Sox history, though second-rounder Thompson still can redeem a group that also included first-rounder Jared Mitchell and supplemental first-round pick Josh Phegley. Thompson has tracked slowly through the system, spending three years at the Class A levels, two more at Double-A Birmingham and beginning 2015, his seventh pro season, at Triple-A Charlotte before making his big league debut on Aug. 4. His brother Klay is a star for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors and his father Mychal was the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NBA draft. Premium athleticism and strong makeup have kept Thompson on the prospect radar, and he delivered on his promise with a loud two-month residency in Chicago in which he recorded an .896 OPS and played all three outfield positions. He said he got back to basics in 2015 by looking for fastballs to drive with his plus loft power to his pull side, and he slammed 56 extra-base hits, including 18 homers, in a combined 148 games in the minors and majors. Thompson controls the strike zone and makes contact well enough to hit perhaps .260, but he doesn't manipulate the barrel all that well with a swing geared for power. An average runner and smart basestealer, he is a quality, long-striding defensive outfielder capable of making routine plays in center field and plus throws from right. A lot of evaluators still see Thompson as an extra outfielder, but he converted a few doubters in 2015. At the very least, his performance in 2015 served notice to Chicago's regular outfielders that the rookie is not overwhelmed by the big stage and is ready to contribute. Thompson still has one minor league option remaining for 2016 if the White Sox need to send him back to Charlotte.
Thompson's basketball lineage includes his dad Mychal, the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NBA draft, and brother Klay, the star Golden State Warriors shooting guard. Trayce has similar upside in baseball, but his bat stands in his way. He's a graceful athlete and above-average defender in center field, a long-strider who gobbles up territory with plus range. His body and tools draw comparisons to Alex Rios, but Rios came to pro ball with a feel for hitting that Thompson never has exhibited. He has plus pull power that he doesn't get to consistently, instead flying open against soft stuff away. He lacks a consistent approach or offensive plan at the plate. He's an above-average runner who can steal a base and could fill a fourth outfielder role. Added to the 40-man roster in November, Thompson likely will move up to Triple-A Charlotte.
Thompson's brother Klay is a sweet-shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors, while his father Mychal played 14 seasons after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. Trayce chose baseball and was a stalwart for Birmingham's Double-A Southern League champions, hitting two postseason home runs. He has a Jermaine Dye look and similar tools, with more athleticism and speed. He lacks Dye's all-around savvy, however, and struggles to make consistent contact. His swing remains too long, which leads to plenty of strikeouts and modest batting averages, and he hasn't realized he can still hit for power with a shorter swing. Thompson can blast tape-measure shots thanks to his leverage, strength and loft-oriented swing. He has improved at recognizing breaking balls but still struggles with them. He's an average runner and effective basestealer who can handle center field, thanks to graceful, long strides and good instincts. His accurate, average arm helped him rank second in the SL with 13 assists. Thompson should head to Triple-A for the first time in 2014.
A rare above-slot signing for the White Sox, Thompson got $625,000 as a second-round pick in 2009. After repeating low Class A in 2011, he took off in 2012, leading the Carolina League in homers (22), extra-base hits (55) and RBIs (90) and reaching Triple-A Charlotte. He's the son of former NBA No. 1 overall pick Mychal Thompson and the brother of NBA players Klay and Mychel Thompson. Thompson is making his family's athletic ability translate to baseball. He offers a combination of power and speed along with the ability to play center field at a high level. He has worked hard to shorten a long, uppercut swing and use the entire field. He still strikes out too much, in large part because he gets fooled on a lot of breaking pitches. He used his solid speed to steal a career-high 21 bases in 2012 and improved his reads and jumps in center field. He has solid arm strength. Farm director Nick Capra says Thompson has a chance to be a superstar, but he also has to continue to get better. The key will be making more consistent contact after fanning 338 times in the last two seasons. He'll be tested in Double-A Birmingham in 2013 and could receive big league consideration the following year.
A rare above-slot signing for the White Sox, Thompson got $625,000 as a secondround pick in 2009. Following an abbreviated 2010 season in which a pitch shattered his right thumb, he stayed healthy last year and led the low Class A South Atlantic League with 95 runs while ranking second in the system with 24 homers. His father Mychal is a former No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. Older brothers Mychel (Pepperdine) and Klay (Washington State) are college basketball players, with Klay rated as a possible NBA first-rounder. Thompson has the ability to hit long home runs to all fields, thanks to his strength and the loft in his stroke. The length in his swing limits his plate coverage, and, combined with his lack of pitch recognition, leads to frequent strikeouts. His 172 whiffs tied for fifth in the minors in 2011. Thompson isn't just a bomber. He has worked hard on his center-field defense, which some scouts say is better than his bat. His strong arm is a weapon in center field and should play in right, where he'll likely wind up. He's slow out of the batter's box but has average speed when he hits his strides. He shows good instincts on the bases and in the outfield. He may have repeated low Class A, yet Thompson will be just 21 when he advances to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2012. He has the highest offensive ceiling in the system but will have to cut down his strikeouts considerably to reach it.
The son of former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Mychal Thompson, Trayce is one of just three players to receive an over-slot bonus from the White Sox in the last five drafts, joining Gordon Beckham and outfield prospect Jordan Danks. Signed for $625,000 as a second-round pick in 2009, Thompson got off to a slow start in his first full pro season before a pitch shattered his right thumb in late May, sidelining him for nearly three months. As an athletic slugger from Southern California's high school ranks, Thompson drew some comparisons to Mike Stanton as an amateur. He's definitely a high-ceiling player with enormous power potential, but filling Stanton's spikes will be tough. He has hit just .218 as a pro, in large part because he chases breaking pitches out of the strike zone. He has a long swing that leads to high strikeout totals. He's young, however, and has shown an ability to make adjustments. He has solid range and speed to go with average arm strength, but needs to be more aggressive in the field and on the bases. Thompson will return to low Class A in 2011. He'll need time to develop, but few White Sox prospects can match his potential. He wants to stay in center field but seems destined for a corner spot.
The White Sox haven't taken a lot of high-risk, high-reward picks in recent drafts, but Thompson is that kind of player. The son of Mychal Thompson, the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NBA draft, he turned down a scholarship at UCLA to sign for $625,000 as a second-round pick last summer. Thompson has everything scouts look for--athleticism, bat speed, power, speed and arm strength. He's unusually coordinated for his size. He can catch up to good fastballs and drive bad breaking pitches a long way. He has range to play center field and the arm to fit in right. He showed intensity and a competitive nature during his introduction to pro ball. Thompson has a lot of work to do as a hitter. He has a long swing and struggles against curveballs, often chasing pitches outside of the zone. He doesn't trust his bat speed, committing himself too soon. Chicago expects him to develop power but doesn't want him to force the issue at this stage in his development. He needs work at getting better jumps, both in the outfield and on the bases. Thompson could start his first full pro season in low Class A, but the White Sox may prefer to let him have some time in extended spring training before heading to Rookie-level Great Falls. He may wind up on an outfield corner but will remain in center field for the foreseeable future.

Minor League Top Prospects

Thompson led the league in homers (22), extra-base hits (55) and RBIs (90). The son of former NBA No. 1 overall pick Mychal Thompson, he worked to shorten a long, uppercut swing and use the entire field. The adjustments paid off in the second half, when he batted .301/.353/.526 at Winston-Salem and earned promotions to Double-A and Triple-A. An above-average runner, Thompson has the potential to become a dual home run/stolen base threat. The key to his development will be improving his pitch recognition and cutting down on his strikeouts. He ranked 10th in the minors with 166 whiffs after tying for fifth last year with 172. Thompson also uses his speed to cover a lot of ground in center field, where he has improved his reads and jumps. He has a solid arm that's stronger than that of a typical center fielder.
The son of former NBA standout Mychal Thompson shows signs of emerging from his basketball-playing family's shadow by establishing himself on the diamond. Trayce spent his second straight season at Kannapolis and topped the SAL in runs (95) while ranking third in homers (24) and extra-base hits (62). Thompson has above-average power but has yet to show he can make consistent contact. He has a long swing--no surprise for someone who stands 6-foot-4--and his 172 strikeouts led the league and were the fifth-highest total in the minors. Though he's not quick out of the batter's box, he has average speed and arm strength, and his instincts give him plus range in center field. "He's very mature for his age, and he's blessed with athletic ability, size, strength, and the ability to throw, run, hit and hit for power," Kannapolis manager Tommy Thompson said. "You look at his dad and you wonder how big and strong Trayce could be in three or four more years. He's a class act on and off the field, he's a quiet leader and he's made some nice adjustments because he works his butt off every day."
Though his average plummeted to .188 after he finished the season in an 0-for-18 skid, Thompson's athletic bloodlines were obvious. His father Mychal, a 6-foot-10 center, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft and spent 12 years in the league. The younger Thompson, a second-round pick in June, excited Appy League observers with raw physicality (he's 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds), tremendous bat speed and big-time power potential. As evidenced by Thompson's zero home runs, four walks and 33 strikeouts, those tools didn't translate into immediate results. Scouts questioned his baseball instincts as an amateur, and he struggled to identify and hit breaking balls with his long swing. Thompson did earn high marks for his intensity level, plus arm strength and above-average speed. In time, he could become an asset in center field.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Chicago White Sox in 2014
Rated Best Athlete in the Chicago White Sox in 2014
Rated Best Power Prospect in the Carolina League in 2012
Rated Best Power Hitter in the Chicago White Sox in 2012

Scouting Reports

Background: A rare above-slot signing for the White Sox, Thompson got $625,000 as a second-round pick in 2009. After repeating low Class A in 2011, he took off in 2012, leading the Carolina League in homers (22), extra-base hits (55) and RBIs (90) and reaching Triple-A Charlotte. He's the son of former NBA No. 1 overall pick Mychal Thompson and the brother of NBA players Klay and Mychel Thompson. Scouting Report: Thompson offers a combination of power and speed along with the ability to play center field at a high level. He has worked hard to shorten a long, uppercut swing and use the entire field. He still strikes out too much, in large part because he gets fooled on a lot of breaking pitches. Thompson used his solid speed to steal a career-high 21 bases in 2012 and improved his reads and jumps in center field. He has solid arm strength. The Future: Farm director Nick Capra says Thompson has a chance to be a superstar but he also has to continue to get better. The key will be making more consistent contact after fanning 338 times in the last two seasons. He'll be tested in Double-A Birmingham in 2013 and could receive big league consideration the following year.
Background: A rare above-slot signing, Thompson got $625,000 as a second-round pick in 2009. After a pitch broke his right thumb in 2010, he stayed healthy last year and led the low Class A South Atlantic League with 95 runs while ranking second in the system with 24 homers. His father Mychal is a former No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. Older brothers Mychel (Pepperdine) and Klay (Washington State) are college basketball players, with Klay rated as a possible NBA first-rounder.Scouting Report: Thompson has the ability to hit long home runs to all fields, thanks to his strength and the loft in his stroke. The length in his swing limits his plate coverage, and combines with his lack of pitch recognition to lead to frequent strikeouts. His 172 whiffs tied for fifth in the minors in 2011. Thompson has worked hard on his center-field defense, which some scouts say is better than his bat. His strong arm is a weapon and should play in right, where he'll likely wind up. He's slow out of the batter's box but has average speed when he hits his stride. He shows good instincts on the bases and in the outfield.The Future: He may have repeated low Class A, yet Thompson will be just 21 when he advances to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2012. He has the highest offensive ceiling in the system but will have to cut down his strikeouts considerably to reach it.

Career Transactions

Iowa Cubs activated RF Trayce Thompson from the temporarily inactive list.
Iowa Cubs placed RF Trayce Thompson on the temporarily inactive list.
RF Trayce Thompson assigned to Iowa Cubs.
Chicago Cubs signed free agent RF Trayce Thompson to a minor league contract.
Syracuse Mets released RF Trayce Thompson.
Chicago White Sox activated RF Trayce Thompson from the 60-day injured list.
sent RF Trayce Thompson on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox sent RF Trayce Thompson on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox traded RHP Lance Lynn and RHP Joe Kelly to Los Angeles Dodgers for RF Trayce Thompson, RHP Nick Nastrini and RHP Jordan Leasure.
Chicago White Sox placed RF Trayce Thompson on the 60-day injured list. Strained left oblique.
Chicago White Sox traded RHP Lance Lynn and RHP Joe Kelly to Los Angeles Dodgers for RF Trayce Thompson, RHP Nick Nastrini and RHP Jordan Leasure.
sent RF Trayce Thompson on a rehab assignment to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers sent RF Trayce Thompson on a rehab assignment to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers sent RF Trayce Thompson on a rehab assignment to ACL Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers transferred RF Trayce Thompson from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
Los Angeles Dodgers placed RF Trayce Thompson on the 10-day injured list.
Great Britain activated RF Trayce Thompson.