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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the struggles of $240 million man Kyle Tucker at the plate.
Entering Sunday’s play, outfielder Kyle Tucker is just 3-for-15 in Cactus League play, which on paper is quite a disappointing output for someone earning $60 million.
The Dodgers needed an outfielder, and they went after the biggest fish on the market at the position, who happened to be the biggest free agent on the market as a whole.
This led to Tucker receiving a mega offer from the Dodgers in the short term at a high average annual value, which he eventually accepted after months of deliberation.
While the offense is not at the level most would expect, Dave Roberts is quite happy with how Tucker is approaching the plate, as evidenced by his six walks in 22 plate appearances.
“I think him just posting and in our lineup – he’s an on-base machine. He can hit for average. He can hit for some power,” Roberts said of Tucker, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.
“But I just think being around the talent we have, the numbers will speak to it. We’ll see what level. But I just think he’s a heckuva player. For me, it’s just continue to be who you are and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Kyle Tucker’s on-base effectiveness
Tucker, at the top of the lineup, could help make sure this is a base runner consistently for the other Dodgers stars. He has good speed, which will make him quite a valuable bat.
His patience and eye will make him stand out in the lineup, while the depth of the roster will make him have less pressure to deliver at the plate in terms of hitting.
“For me, I just see him as a guy if he gets on base, however he gets on base, that’s the biggest – that’s something we’re looking for and something we’re counting on,” Roberts added.
“Having Mookie (Betts) and Freddie (Freeman) behind him and Will (Smith) – if he’s a guy who gets on base at a high, high clip, then everything else will kind of fall into place.”
The Dodgers’ environment should allow Tucker to have a career year, having the support and specialized role to excel.
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