Add The California Post on Google Kyle Tucker took a few beats to consider the question.
In recent weeks, there has been rampant speculation about the outfielder’s mental state, amid a career-worst season in his debut campaign with the Dodgers. From fans to broadcasters to even his own manager, the $240 million outfielder has been seen as short on confidence and boiling with frustration.
This weekend, however, the four-time All-Star paused when asked whether he felt his disappointing season had taken a mental toll.
“I mean, it’s been a struggle,” he finally conceded, “in the sense that I’d like to help our team win and perform better for the guys in the clubhouse and the fans that come to the games. In that aspect, I wish I would’ve done better this year.”
But then, despite his personal lows in batting average (.231), OPS (.689) and even wins above replacement (an even 0.0, according to Baseball-Reference), the 29-year-old did something almost unexpected.
He looked to the future, and saw reasons to remain optimistic.
“We’ve still got a month and a half left and the playoffs coming up, so it’s not over yet,” he said. “Just gotta keep grinding every single day and just keep moving forward and just try to get better every single day. Our team’s phenomenal. I have a lot of respect for the guys in here. And they’ve been supportive of me along with everyone else on the team. So, just looking forward to finishing out the year strong.”
Indeed, for all the renewed scrutiny that has come with joining the Dodgers this year, playing for the two-time defending champions comes with a unique blessing.
If Tucker can contribute in October, and aid the team’s chase for an historic three-peat, much of his regular-season struggles will be forgiven, or at least forgotten.
For as ugly as this first chapter has been, his story with the Dodgers is far from complete.
That’s why, this past weekend, manager Dave Roberts struck a similarly upbeat tone when asked about Tucker’s progress, even after a 2-for-11 performance against the Pirates.
“I really feel we’ve turned a corner,” Roberts said, while noting that Tucker seemed more “freed up” both mentally and emotionally.
“We’re in a fight, and I think that he understands that there’s no other alternative but to keep going forward,” Roberts added. “We just got to get through this together. I don’t know how to articulate it. But I just feel good about some of the things I’ve seen.”
During the Pirates series, Roberts was most encouraged by the quality of Tucker’s at-bat, with the veteran slugger drawing two walks and striking out only once.
After receiving a pre-planned ovation from the crowd on Friday night, Tucker also had a highlight moment in Saturday’s come-from-behind win, snapping an unthinkable 0-for-26 slump at home with a two-run, go-ahead single that proved decisive in a 4-3 win.
“I think the last couple days,” Roberts said, “is more of what we’re going to see going forward.”
Saturday’s victory also came with a telling moment in the postgame clubhouse –– one that underscored the growing comfort level Tucker continues to insist he has built with his new team.
As reporters waited to swarm him at his locker, teammate Miguel Rojas chimed in with a laugh.
“You gotta talk to him. He got his first hit in three homestands!” Rojas joked, before getting Tucker’s attention: “Look what happens when you get a hit. King Tuck!”
Tucker smiled at the light-hearted ribbing. He made reference to the punch line once his media session began.
“It was nice,” he said of his game-winning knock. “Like Miggy said, I haven’t had a hit in the last three homestands.”
Then, Tucker shifted his focus to the future once more, maintaining hope –– despite the storm clouds that continue to follow him –– that the rest of the season will feature brighter days ahead.
“I just try and go out there and take the next at-bat, and have a good quality at-bat,” he said.
His manager and teammates are still betting that he can.
