Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson is taking part in the World Baseball Classic this spring and will be suiting up for Great Britain.
They’ll take on Team USA in their WBC opener on Saturday night.
Thompson has chosen to don the No. 43 for the tournament.
But he didn’t just randomly choose the number.
In fact, he says it’s a nod to his father and former NBA star Mychal Thompson, who wore No. 43 for the majority of his career.
Thompson commented on what his father means to him and why he ultimately chose to wear No. 43 in the WBC, praising him for his mentorship.
Trayce Thompson on wearing #43 in WBC:"My dad was my idol. I don't really think of him as a sports dad. He was just my dad. He never pushed sports on us.We just kind of chose our own paths.And if it wasn't for him and the way he raised us who knows if I would have played baseball
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 10, 2023
Thompson says that his father never tried to force anything on him and that he didn’t think of him as a “sports dad.”
The young outfielder idolized his father growing up and says that he was good at what he did, which was being a loving and supportive parent.
Thompson praised him again for letting him and his brother, NBA star Klay Thompson, follow their own paths instead of setting the two brothers on a structured path.
Thompson went on to say that he isn’t sure if he would have ended up playing baseball if it weren’t for his father.
This is a nice, touching story that Thompson shared about what his father means to him.
Clearly, he still holds his dad in high regard and is grateful to him for simply being his father, as opposed to a certain type of father.
That is ultimately what motivated Thompson to choose No. 43.
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