Los Angeles Dodgers’ newest star outfielder Kyle Tucker said he will wear No. 23 this season in honor of his former Houston Astros teammate and mentor Michael Brantley.
Tucker revealed his reason for choosing his new jersey number in his introductory press conference.
“He was the guy I hung out with a lot coming up in Houston. He was a phenomenal ballplayer and one of my closest friends,” Tucker said.
The four-time All-Star was teammates with Brantley during his time with the Astros from 2019 to 2023. They both played crucial roles with the Astros and led them to their second title in franchise history in 2022.
The 29-year-old wore No. 30 with the Astros and Chicago Cubs last season, but he couldn’t do the same with the Dodgers because manager Dave Roberts already owns that number. With Roberts’ No. 30 likely to be retired in the future, Tucker had an added reason to pick a different jersey.
Can Kyle Tucker Make the Dodgers Even More Dominant in 2026?
Tucker now joins the Dodgers and will seek his second title in his career, as well as help the Dodgers complete the three-peat. He will play a pivotal role with the Dodgers in what should be an exciting season for the team.
The last thing that the Dodgers lack is star power. With a team filled with superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Edwin Diaz, to name a few, Tucker, on some nights, could be the unsung hero.
However, his game doesn’t scream unsung hero; it screams franchise cornerstone anywhere else. Tucker joins L.A. as a proven, elite talent. Over his career, the Florida native has slashed .273/.358/.507 with an .865 OPS, totaling 147 home runs, 490 RBIs, 119 stolen bases, 456 runs, and 748 hits across 769 games.
The Dodgers are out for blood this season, and they made that clear with their two marquee signings: Kyle Tucker and All-Star closer Diaz. L.A. has taken plenty of heat for its approach to free agency, but they’re playing by the rules while taking full advantage of strategies most teams won’t or can’t use.
Sure, the Dodgers may be overpowered, but they’re making baseball exciting again — if it wasn’t already.
With Andrew Friedman at the helm, the Dodgers’ decision-makers are doing everything possible to keep the organization firmly on top, which is why they may be the best-run franchise in all of sports.
Notable Dodgers Who Wore No. 23 in Franchise History
Tucker has a chance to become the best player to wear No. 23 for the Dodgers; however, that title belongs to World Series hero Kirk Gibson. Gibson, of course, is most known for his 1988 Game 1 World Series walk-off home run over the then Oakland Athletics to give L.A. a 1-0 series lead. It is arguably the most iconic play in all of the sport.
Other notable players who donned No. 23 for L.A. are Adrian Gonzalez, Derek Lowe, Erick Karros, Jim Wynn, Jason Heyward, and, most recently, Michael Conforto.
