Former Dodgers Outfielder Joins NL Central Squad on MiLB Deal
Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson has signed with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal. The 33-year-old has had two stints with the Dodgers over his nine-year career, including from 2016-17 and in 2022-23.
Thompson made a solid impression with the Dodgers during his first season with the team, posting 13 home runs and 32 RBIs in 80 games during the 2016 season. He could not match this in 2017, as his batting average dropped to .122 and he hit just one home run and two RBIs in 27 games.
He dealt with some injuries and spent much of the 2017 season with Triple-A, but could not find his groove overall.
He then played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Cubs, and San Diego Padres before returning to the Dodgers in 2022 from a trade. Thompson once again had a nice season in his first back with the Dodgers, slashing .268/.364/.537 with 13 home runs and 39 RBIs in 74 games.
His average then slumped down to .155 in 2023 as he dealt with a strained oblique that landed him on the injured list. He was traded with Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure in 2023 to the White Sox, as the Dodgers acquired Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn.
Now, he’s back on his second stint with the Cubs, where he will play in their minor league system. He spent the beginning of the 2024 season in the New York Mets’ minor league system.
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Analyzing Draft Day 2, round-by-round
The first 74 picks of the 2024 MLB Draft were off the board after an exciting Day 1, but there was still a ton of talent available for Day 2, which covered Rounds 3-10. Below are some of Monday’s most notable picks, including a number of Top 100 Draft prospects, the grandson of a Heisman Trophy winner and a Yankees fifth-rounder whose fastball touches 103 mph.
The 2024 Draft will conclude on Tuesday with Rounds 11-20, starting at 2 p.m. ET with no delay between selections, all heard on MLB.com.
Bazzana goes No. 1 | Wake Forest makes history | Mariners nab switch-pitcher | Top 7 Day 1 storylines | Best Draft prospect from each state | Famous family ties | Best late-round picks in Draft history | Bonus pools & pick values | Order | Complete coverage
ROUND 3
Pick 2 (76th overall), Royals: Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee (No. 64 Draft prospect)
Beam led the College World Series champions with 102 1/3 innings pitched and made a pair of starts in Omaha for the Vols on their way to the title. His four-pitch mix is considered fairly average across the board, although his changeup earns 55 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale, but his impressive control should give him a strong chance to start in the Kansas City system.
Pick 5 (79th overall), Nationals: Kevin Bazzell, C, Texas Tech (No. 55)
The Nationals already took a potential catcher of the future in Caleb Lomavita at No. 39 overall and go back behind the plate here with Bazzell. The right-handed slugger is a potential plus hitter, having hit .330 with more walks than strikeouts over three years on campus, and his arm strength behind the plate gives him another above-average tool.
Pick 7 (81st overall), Angels: Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M (No. 61)
Sticking to College World Series finalists, Prager helped push the Aggies into a deep Omaha run with a 2.95 ERA and 124 strikeouts over 97 ⅔ innings. He doesn’t show stellar velocity with a fastball that will only touch 93, but his high release height and impressive induced vertical break makes the heater play well alongside an above-average slider and plus changeup.
Pick 10 (84th overall), Guardians: Joey Oakie, RHP, Ankeny Centennial (IA) HS (No. 46)
Oakie was one of the top prospects remaining entering Day 2, and the 6-foot-3 right-hander heads to Cleveland, giving the Guardians four Top 50 prospects through three rounds. His mid-80s slider has plus-plus potential with wicked two-plane break, and he might be a candidate to take on a four-seam fastball because of the flat vertical approach of his pitches from a low three-quarters slot.
Pick 13 (87th overall), Reds: Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern (No. 50)
Sirota was considered a first-round talent in the winter, but inconsistency during his junior season with the Huskies caused him to fall. The 21-year-old still has plus speed, and he could be an above-average defensive outfielder with good arm strength. He’ll need to improve his timing at the plate to reach his ceiling as a potential 20-20 player in
Diaw became the first player of Senegalese descent to be drafted when he went to Minnesota here. He missed some time with a broken left thumb and sprained wrist, but when he was on the diamond, he showed a hit-over-power profile with solid contact rates. He has some versatility with agility and arm strength that could play behind the plate or in the outf
