Dodgers’ Season Resumes for Struggling Kyle Tucker
SAN DIEGO — The Dodgers kicked off the second half of their season on Friday.
This shift effectively nullified arguments based on small sample sizes, particularly for Kyle Tucker, who has been having a tough time at the plate.
Fortunately for Tucker and the Dodgers, he was back in the lineup for Friday’s opener against the Padres, having missed earlier games due to back spasms. His return was anticipated.
However, the back issue wasn’t the main concern as Game 82 unfolded at Petco Park.
A glance at his stats reveals a troubling trend: a disappointing .234 batting average, a .374 slugging percentage, and an OPS of .707. With a negative three runs allowed, it paints a grim picture, especially for someone with the second-highest salary in MLB history at $60 million. Only Shohei Ohtani’s delayed $70 million deal surpasses it.
This season, Tucker is not resembling the four-time All-Star who once seemed like an all-around game-changer.
There are now more strikeouts and whiffs than usual. Even when he connects, he falls short of his typical power levels, currently trailing his career average by 35 RBIs. He has only hit six home runs so far, and projections suggest he could end up with a career-low of 12 home runs, a notable drop from his consistent 20-plus in previous full seasons.
Recent attempts to adjust his swings haven’t turned out well. A renewed focus on his batting approach did not yield significant improvements.
After leaving Monday’s game early, Tucker missed a couple of days to recover, and manager Dave Roberts expressed hope that the downtime would function as a “mental reset” for the 29-year-old outfielder.
Now, four days later, they are both optimistic about that reset being successful.
“We had been working on some mechanical aspects before the back issue occurred,” Roberts noted before Friday’s game. “Those were built upon, and I believe we’ve reset mentally; physically, he seems fit.”
By Wednesday, Tucker mentioned that his back was no longer a hindrance, allowing him to swing normally and work on his mechanics.
“I took a few swings to ensure everything felt right and aimed for a good backspin, trying to connect nicely with the ball,” he shared. He was optimistic about steering clear of a disabled list stint and was positioned to bat No. 6 in Friday’s matchup.
“Getting through the end of the swing was the hardest part,” Tucker said. “When I accelerate fully, it can tighten up. But things felt good lately.”
When asked about needing a mental reset, Tucker was somewhat evasive, replying, “Maybe.” But he added, “Regardless of previous struggles, we must show up every day. So today, we aim to get back on track and have a solid performance.”
As the second half begins, Tucker is certainly hoping for better days ahead.
So far, his underwhelming performance hasn’t significantly affected the Dodgers, yet they’ll need him to find his stride again if they’re to pursue a third consecutive World Series title.
