Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Reacts to Trayce Thompson's 3 Homer Night

Appreciation from the GOAT.

Trayce Thompson hit 1,263 feet of home runs on Saturday night and Clayton Kershaw put together a gem in his first start of the year. Add those up and you're bound to see a Dodger victory every time. 

Thompson's 3 home run night stole the show in an otherwise balanced LA win. For Kershaw, he was fine being the second fiddle of the night, as he told reporters after the game.

“Trayce is one of the hardest working guys I’ve been around, just grinds day in, day out,” a smiling Clayton Kershaw said. “So it’s really fun to see him have success after the journey that he’s had.”

It was his first start of the season. He was facing a potential hall of famer in Madison Bumgarner. The bases were loaded with two out. And he handled the pressure by taking the second pitch he'd seen since Tuesday and depositing it deep into left field.

Trayce Thompson just hit a grand slam off a lefty. His reverse splits last season were a hot topic this off-season.

I’ll never forget during spring training when he looked me dead in the eye and said, “I know I can hit lefties.” He’s a man on a mission.https://t.co/Za1QoNLtSN

— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) April 2, 2023

“(It’s) not easy to sit on the bench, face lefties, first at-bat of the season, bases loaded,” Kershaw added. “There’s a lot going on right there. And so for him to put that swing on the ball to start a year was pretty impressive.”

Through all the ups and downs of the outfielder's career, and after a rough spring where he called himself "probably the worst spring training player here," Trayce was rewarded with a dream night in Los Angeles.

“It’s stuff you think about when you’re little, when you’re young in this game. So to have it happen tonight is pretty cool.” ... “Everyone kind of knows my journey, and it’s been a long journey, so to be back here, it does mean a lot to me,” Thompson said. “But like I said, I always have belief and conviction in myself, so I know I can have nights like this. I’m just thankful that tonight was one of those nights.”

Thompson is tied for the MLB home run lead with 3 and leads all of baseball with 8 runs batted in. He's done it all in one game.

It's just one game of 162 this year, but it's one special game for Trayce Thompson and the Dodgers.