Dodgers expect big things from Kyle Tucker in…
PHOENIX –– It was a prototypical gross sales pitch, save for one determinative query.
A remaining character examine, before a blockbuster transaction.
In the ultimate days of Kyle Tucker’s free company this offseason, the Dodgers hosted a video call with the four-time All-Star that –– for the most half –– was designed to promote him on the workforce.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker against the San Diego Padres during a spring training recreation at Peoria Sports Complex. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sitting alongside his spouse, Samantha, Tucker heard from president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, common supervisor Brandon Gomes and supervisor Dave Roberts. He listened to them clarify the making of the Dodgers’ current dynasty, how the workforce helps even celebrity acquisitions improve on the sector, and all the myriad methods the membership caters to gamers and their households off of it.
Before the call ended, however, Friedman turned the tables on the eventual $240 million signee.
He may really feel momentum building toward a deal. He may sense the mutual curiosity between the 2 events.
But if the Dodgers had been going to make a practically quarter-billion-dollar investment in Tucker, there was one thing they needed to be bought on, too.
“It was just getting into our environment, and what our guys do to prepare,” Friedman recalled of the dialog to The California Post this week. “They do an incredible job of setting the standard. So the challenge is: Is that something you’re up for?”
For as good as Tucker has been over the last six seasons, after all, the Dodgers felt there was another degree he had yet to faucet into.
Even though the 29-year-old boasts two Silver Sluggers, one Gold Glove and one World Series ring –– having posted the Eleventh-most wins above substitute among place gamers since 2020, according to Fangraphs –– he lacked a signature season in which his transcendent talent set was at full impact.
“As you look back over his career, obviously he’s had some incredible years,” Friedman famous.
Yet, Tucker’s best end in an MVP race was fifth, back in 2022. And in latest years, his efficiency had been impacted by a string of accidents that restricted his taking part in time, as nicely as a defensive decline in proper subject that contributed to public questions about his dedication degree.
“We feel like, with where he’s at, getting a complete season out of him on both sides of the ball is very attainable,” Friedman said. “And we feel like, in our environment, we can help bring that out of him even more.”
Thus, Friedman posed his query over the offseason video call.
And a couple months later, recounting Tucker’s reply still introduced a smile to his face.
“We had a great conversation on it,” Friedman said, “and he was all-in.”
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker against the Cleveland Guardians during a spring training recreation at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
Gold Glove aim
When requested last week how Tucker may degree up now that he’s with the Dodgers, hitting coach Aaron Bates lacked a lot of an reply.
“I don’t know, he’s been a pretty good player over the last five, six years,” Bates quipped. “Last year, he was basically the best player in baseball before he got hurt.”
Indeed, when healthy, there’s hardly ever been a query about the menace Tucker poses at the plate.
He is an on-base machine, thanks to a disciplined strategy that has helped him keep away from even a single 100-strikeout season. He also brings energy, proudly owning a pair of 30-homer campaigns, and underrated velocity, having eclipsed 25 steals 3 times.
Last 12 months with the Cubs, a hairline hand fracture led to a second-half hunch for the lefty slugger, who slashed .291/.395/.537 through June but just .225/.348/.342 thereafter.
However, the Dodgers are assured that issue is now behind him, holding high hopes about what he’ll do as their new No. 2 hitter sandwiched between Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in the lineup.
“I wouldn’t put limitations on what he’s capable of doing when he’s healthy, especially as he enters his prime years,” Bates said. “But if he can just be himself, that’s plenty good enough.”
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker makes a catch during day 5 of spring training exercises at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Jason Szenes for CA Post
That’s why, this spring, the Dodgers’ real focus with Tucker has been on the defensive facet of the ball –– hoping to couple his elite offensive manufacturing with resurgent play in proper subject, as nicely.
That was the impetus for Friedman’s query to Tucker in the offseason. It was also the first issue Roberts pointed to when requested not too long ago where Tucker can improve in 2026.
“That’s something he self-admitted he wants to get better at,” Roberts said. “I don’t see why he can’t be in the conversation of being one of the elite right fielders in the game.”
It wasn’t long in the past Tucker’s protection was of that caliber. When he received his Gold Glove in 2022, his 15 defensive runs saved had been tied with Betts for most among MLB proper fielders.
Since then, however, Tucker has suffered stark regression.
Over the last three years, MLB’s Statcast system has graded both his outfield vary and capacity to get jumps off the ball as below league-average. Last season, he posted a destructive mark in DRS, rating worse than even new teammate Teoscar Hernández.
Granted, accidents have been a issue. In 2024, he missed three months with a shin fracture. Last 12 months, he was sidelined for a lot of September with a calf pressure.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker against the San Diego Padres during a spring training recreation at Peoria Sports Complex. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Still, the basics of his play also slipped.
“He talked about the importance of getting back to where he was defensively, and how he had kinda gotten away from his routine,” Friedman said, referring back to Tucker’s offseason video call. “But he was all-in for getting into a daily routine. Because those are the things we can control.”
Tucker himself opened up on that dynamic to reporters last week, citing the need to be better at all the things from studying balls off the bat to cutting them off in the gaps. He pointed to how that “doesn’t always show up in the score box, but it’s huge from a team winning standpoint.”
“You’re never gonna be perfect in baseball or in sports, but you can always have room for improvement,” Tucker added. “So I just try and get better every day at whatever aspect of my game there is.”
And what would a “better” model of Tucker appear to be this 12 months?
“I don’t know,” he answered. “Hopefully, we can find out.”
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker stands next to two method participant Shohei Ohtani during live batting follow at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Friday, February 20, 2026. Jason Szenes for CA Post
Seamless transition
Part of the Dodgers’ religion in Tucker is rooted in their past experiences with other star-caliber arrivals.
In the last half-decade, they’ve taken big swings by buying Betts, Freeman and Ohtani, among others. And in each case, they’ve watched those superstars make a seamless transition to the group, flourishing on the sector while strengthening the membership’s tradition behind the scenes.
“Obviously, there’s a selection bias,” Friedman said. “The guys that we invest long-term in, they possess those traits.”
Time will inform if Tucker can comply with in those footsteps. For now, his pact with the workforce is only short-term; a four-year deal including participant opt-outs after the second and third seasons.
That means, in all chance, he will probably be back on the market in the next couple offseasons, hoping to parlay his success with the Dodgers into another profitable contract.
But if all goes nicely in Los Angeles, he’s the type of participant the workforce can envision re-signing long-term, too.
“In two years, we’ll know a lot more about a lot of things than we do now,” Friedman said the day of Tucker’s introductory news convention in January, after their productive video call helped consummate his official signing. “Just because he opts out doesn’t mean we won’t be there to try to sign him.”
Los Angeles Dodgers base runner Kyle Tucker slides into home to rating forward of the tag by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann during a spring training recreation at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
To this level, after all, Tucker has said and executed all the suitable things –– taking the problem Friedman posed during his recruiting course of, and committing to meet it as he enters his highly-anticipated debut Dodger season.
“I just think he’s a heckuva player,” Roberts said. “For me, it’s just continue to be who you are, and we’ll see where it takes us.”
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