Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker had a rough start to his career in Los Angeles, but Manager Dave Roberts says he’s come around in recent weeks.
Tucker’s OPS has hovered around league average all season, and he has drawn plenty of criticism after signing a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason. He looked to have settled in during Monday’s win against the Tampa Bay Rays, though, as he went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.
“He’s not a very talkative person, but I will say that he, the last few weeks, he’s really opened up with his teammates, with the coaches, and I think he’s freeing himself up, being more comfortable,” Roberts said. “But he cares. He’s working hard, trying his tail off, and he was frustrated, obviously, during the last homestand. So to get back to feeling like you’ve got a fighting chance, I think he’s in a better head space.”
On the year, Tucker is batting .239 with a .725 OPS. He has six homers and 39 RBIs this season, also tallying 16 doubles for second-most on the team this season. While his numbers certainly aren’t the worst, Tucker’s standards after seven successful MLB seasons must be higher.
His batting average and slugging percentage would be his lowest since 2018, when he spent just 28 games in the majors. His on-base percentage of .337 is also passable, but he hasn’t finished a season with a mark that low since 2022.
Why Did the Dodgers Pay Kyle Tucker So Much?
While he hasn’t looked the same since donning a Dodgers uniform, Tucker was one of the best hitters in MLB for several years prior to signing his record contract.
In 2025, Tucker posted an .841 OPS with 22 homers and 73 RBIs through 136 games, and played through a hand fracture for most of the season. The outfielder hit 30 homers in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022, and followed those up in 2023 with a 29-homer season while recording 112 RBIs.
He struggled to stay healthy in 2024, but still hit 23 homers in 78 games played.
The Dodgers are still yet to see the best of what Tucker can offer, but when he gets going the Dodgers’ investment will definitely pay off.
Do you think Kyle Tucker can turn things around this season?
