The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered what was already considered one of the best lineups in baseball when they signed Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract.
Tucker has been one of the most productive players in recent seasons and gives the team another All-Star caliber player to pair with the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith, among others.
The Dodgers were thrilled to add Tucker as they believe he will be a difference maker in their quest to win a third consecutive World Series title. However, others from outside of the organization have questioned the 29-year-old’s passion for the game and work ethic.
“The key with anybody is you build the relationship, you communicate,” Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel said of Tucker on SportsNet LA. “Day 1, when he stepped into Spring Training, that was my goal.
“I had him before in the WBC in ’23, got to know him in a short period of time — three weeks — but it was a good time for me. Now he’s in that Dodger uniform, kind of got a feel, talked to him, what’s his routine, and you stick with it.
“I have his back. Every day he comes out, he loves to shag, loves to get his work in. He’s very quiet. He’s in the clubhouse, you don’t know he’s there, but he gets his work done. He’s going to help this team win a championship.
“The little things are there, pays attention to details, on the bases. Now the adjustments he’s making defensively with our positioning, he’s learning every day and he’s getting better. All good so far, which there’s going to be no problem with Kyle Tucker.”
After getting off to a slow start offensively, Tucker broke out with a 3-for-6 performance against the Washington Nationals on Friday that including hitting his first home run of the season. He followed it with another multi-hit effort and RBI on Saturday.
The two-time Silver Slugger Award winner is batting .281/.361/.406 with one double, one home run and five RBI over eight games with the Dodgers.
What Dodgers want Kyle Tucker to focus on
Tucker has excelled at getting on base in his Major League career, and that is precisely what the Dodgers want him to prioritize this season. That was part of the reason the team decided to bat Tucker second in the lineup.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
