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Trayce Thompson’s biggest fan is Rockies’ brightest star
- Updated: April 23, 2016
8:28 PM ET
DENVER — Receiving tough love can be one thing. Actually asking for it is quite another.
Call Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson a glutton for punishment, but when he asked his closest friend to give him the most raw and honest truth about his game, most notably his swing, it was only because he wanted to be able to bring out the best in himself.
That his friend just happens to be one of baseball’s brightest young stars shows the actual method to Thompson’s madness.
“I’ve known Trayce for a long time, and ever since we got drafted we’ve hit together every offseason,” Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “He’s one of my best friends and he’s like a brother, basically. He tells me things honestly — I tell him things and sometimes we argue a lot, but we’re honest with each other. He’s my boy.”
What can’t be argued is the genius in Thompson’s decision to let Arenado break him down to the core. The Rockies’ star third baseman has only three full MLB seasons under his belt, but he already has won two Gold Glove Awards and finished eighth in National League MVP voting last season when he hit 42 home runs with 130 RBIs.
The two have been connected at the hip since first playing baseball with each other at age 13, not long after the Thompson family moved from Oregon to Orange County, California. They ended up at different high schools — Thompson at Santa Margarita, Arenado at El Toro — but played together often on travel and scout teams.
“I’m very thankful for all he has done for me,” Thompson said. “He’s the closest thing I have to a third brother, so me and him, we talk and see each other every single day [in the winter]. It’s amazing to see everything he has done, but I’m not surprised in the least. Colorado has a superstar to build around.”
One of those actual brothers by blood, of course, is NBA sharpshooter Klay Thompson of the champion Golden State Warriors. That means two of the people closest to Trayce Thompson are All-Stars in their respective sports.
“[Arenado] and Klay probably remind me the most of each other,” Trayce Thompson said. “If I could find anyone who is like Klay, it’s probably Nolan. It’s definitely validating to me, …
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