The Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training is underway, and secured a 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Feb. 22 at Peoria Sports Complex. Moreover, it was Tucker’s debut in the Cactus League for the reigning back-to-back World Series champions.
Tucker had a brief appearance in the win over the Padres with one plate appearance. Nonetheless, the outfielder’s new teammates are getting a sense of what it’s like to have Tucker around.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith spoke on Feb. 22 about what it’s like to have Tucker on their side after playing against him for several seasons.
“I’ve seen him for six, seven years now,” Smith told SportsNet LA. “[Tucker is] a good player. I’m glad he’s with us. He’s a really good hitter, a tough out. [He] has a really good feel for the strike zone. He’s got power [and] he’s a good outfielder as well. Steals bases. Just a really, really good player, and he’s gonna help us win a championship this year.”
Kyle Tucker Talks Spring Training Goals Before 2026 Season
Moreover, Tucker shared his thoughts on getting his first at-bat as a Dodger and laid out his goal during spring training as he looks to help Los Angeles begin its quest for a three-peat.
“Last year I got one hit in spring, so hopefully I get more than that,” Tucker told SportsNet LA. “So that’s a goal. But I mean, just feeling comfortable. I felt pretty good today. So I got some, I guess it’s only one pitch, but I saw the ball decently well, hit it decently well, just kind of on the ground.
“But just making sure I’m ready for whenever the season comes around. We still have a decent amount of time before then. So as long as I get enough reps and enough comfortability out there, when the season comes around in a few weeks, I’ll be all right.”
Dodgers Aren’t Concerned Over Claim About Kyle Tucker
Over the offseason, there was speculation questioning his passion for baseball. Nonetheless, Andrew Friedman, the president of baseball operations for the Dodgers, noted that the team did their work on whether there was any truth to this claim surrounding Tucker.
“With Tuck, you know, obviously, there was some stuff that was written and questions about, you know, how much he likes the game, etc., that, as we dug into it, we found to be pretty unfair,” Friedman said on the Feb. 20 edition of “Foul Territory.” “He’s just a lower-motor guy.
“As we dug on that and got into it, for me, makeup is so much about what you do to prepare yourself to go win a game and how you compete. And I will bet on Tuck with what he does. People say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t take enough swings before the game.‘ I think most guys take way too many.”
Still, whether it’s concern about his baseball passion or another reason, the Dodgers moved to sign Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract, per ESPN. The deal runs through 2029 and includes a $64 million signing bonus, $30 million in deferred money, and opt-outs after the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
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