He has been the Dodgers’ least-productive, most-disappointing and highest-scrutinized participant all season lengthy.
He has beforehand been booed both at house and on the street.
He has been criticized, chastised and critiqued endlessly, particularly during a career-worst hitless streak just lately.
But on Friday evening, amid what has been the lowest stretch of his dismal debut season with the Dodgers, Kyle Tucker came to the plate in the backside of the second inning and obtained the type of response that has evaded him for most of the 12 months.
In a pre-planned reception that gained traction on social media the day before, and garnered participation from much of the Chavez Ravine crowd, Dodgers followers supplied a extended ovation to their $240 million outfielder –– giving him a coordinated present of support they hoped would assist Tucker flip his marketing campaign around.
Kyle Tucker got a extended ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd for his first at-bat
Dodger followers had been attempting to manage a constructive reception for him main up to tonight, amid his current struggles pic.twitter.com/N3AgF1QyUI
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) August 22, 2026
“It’s been a struggle, 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,” Tucker said pregame, before grounding out in his sentimental at-bat.
“In that aspect, I wish I would’ve done better this year. But like I said, we’ve still got a month and a half left and the playoffs coming up, so it’s not over yet. Just gotta keep grinding every single day and just keep moving forward and just try to get better every single day.”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker (23) prepares to bat against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball sport on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Jessie Alcheh for CA Post) Jessie Alcheh for CA Post
Indeed, for Tucker, the Dodgers and their followers, there was hope that Friday could characterize the turning of a web page.
During last week’s homestand, Tucker’s already irritating 12 months reached a new nadir, when he went 0-for-19 to proceed his season-long struggles with hitting at Dodger Stadium particularly.
Then, issues one way or the other got even worse Monday evening in Denver, when Tucker went 0-for-5, dropped a fly ball in proper discipline, and seemed despondent on the bench while the group’s tv broadcast debated whether he wanted some type of psychological “reset.”
Daniel Lynch IV #41 of the Kansas City Royals pitches to Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (2026 Getty Images) Getty Images
In the days since, however, Dodgers coaches and gamers had gone out of their method to publicly back the offseason signing, who did get three complete hits on Tuesday and Wednesday to increase his batting common to .232 and OPS to .694.
Manager Dave Roberts, in specific, has voiced confidence in the four-time All-Star, reiterating Friday his objective of ensuring Tucker knows “he’s not on an island” and his plan to preserve enjoying the 29-year-old on an on a regular basis foundation.
“We’re here to support him; I’m here to support him,” Roberts said, before making a declaration: “I really feel we’ve turned a corner, I really do. I can’t speak to what he’s going to do tonight at the plate, but mentally and emotionally I think that he’s freed up. Don’t know what that looks like, but I’m encouraged.”
Tucker did make one change Friday by deciding to hit on the discipline during pregame batting follow, something he has performed only a few instances beforehand this 12 months in lieu of cagework back in the clubhouse.
Kyle Tucker is taking batting follow on the discipline immediately — something he not often does
Dave Roberts said he’s hopeful Tucker has “turned a corner” after his current career-long hitless streak pic.twitter.com/6L9xEbbBlB
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) August 21, 2026
“I haven’t been hitting great this year, so I figured I’d try something else,” he quipped. “Hopefully it helps.”
In the wake of the second inning ovation from the crowd –– which was related to a reception then-slumping shortstop Mookie Betts obtained last season –– Dodgers followers will be hoping for the same, going to their own dramatic lengths in an effort to assist Tucker rebound from what has been a nightmarish season to this level.
“I’m all right. I’m all good,” Tucker said. “Everyone here is super supportive of everything and everyone. So, regardless of how I feel or whatever, I’ve got to go out and play and perform regardless. So, just going to try and do that every single day.”
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