Klay Thompson’s brother shoots for White Sox job

GLENDALE, Ariz. - White Sox prospect Trayce Thompson was an eyewitness to history last month, watching his older brother Klay put his name in the NBA record books.

In the third quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ win against the Sacramento Kings, Klay scored an NBA-record 37 points on 13-for-13 shooting, including nine 3-point attempts, during a 52-point performance. In a display of marksmanship beyond belief, he outscored the Kings by 15 in the quarter, singlehandedly taking over the game.

Watching from the stands at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Trayce was as awestruck as everyone else.

“That was pretty cool, seeing something like that happen,” he said. “The only thing I could compare it to, the way his teammates were acting, was like a pitcher throwing a perfect game.”

Trayce now hopes for an opportunity to do something special, and this figures to be a critical season in his journey.

A second-round draft pick in 2009, Thompson seemed to be on a fast track to the majors with 27 home runs and 103 RBIs at four minor league stops in 2012. But his numbers dropped at Double-A Birmingham in 2013, and he hit .237 with 16 homers and 59 RBIs for the Barons last year.

With six minor league seasons under his belt and turning 24 next month, it could be now or never for Thompson to prove he can play in the majors. He’s a long shot in camp and likely to start out at Triple-A Charlotte, but his solid outfield defense and power give Thompson a chance to win a bench spot.

“This is actually the first offseason I didn’t play any winter ball,” Thompson said. “I came out here in September to work with Vance Law, our hitting coordinator, and Jim Thome, to really work on my swing and get going into the offseason. It was a nice break. Worked real hard, and I’m ready to get going here.”

The sons of former NBA star Mychal Thompson, Trayce and Klay played baseball, basketball and football together growing up near Portland, Ore. The oldest Thompson brother, Mychel, briefly played with the Cavaliers in 2012.

Trayce thought Klay would wind up as a pro quarterback, but he always knew which direction he was headed.

“I was always baseball,” he said. “Even in high school I always had a bat in my hands in the house. Growing up in the Northwest in the ’90s, the Mariners were kind of a big deal, so I was always a baseball guy.”

Along with fellow “Splash Brother” Stephen Curry, Klay is part of one of the best shooting tandems the NBA has seen in years, and he’s featured on the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated. Trayce isn’t trying to keep up with Klay and said all three brothers have each other’s backs.

“It’s funny because I was originally drafted first,” he said. “So in high school (Klay) was a big deal his senior year, and then I had my moment in high school and got drafted. Then they caught up to me, and now I’m trying to catch up to them.

“When that rumor came out last year of me going to Oakland (for Jeff Samardzija), Klay was as excited as anybody. Playing baseball is probably the most beautiful part of it for me because I have no expectation with my family.

“I’m definitely trying to do my own thing and get on their level as far as playing at the highest level. I’ve just got to be more consistent.”

That starts this spring at Camelback Ranch, where Thompson gets a chance to make a splash in the desert.