Kyle Tucker sent shockwaves throughout baseball when he signed a four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the offseason.
Through the first half of the season, however, the four-time All-Star has struggled to meet the high expectations that came with the deal.
Through 92 games, the 29-year-old right fielder is slashing .244/.340/.373 with seven home runs and 47 RBI.
While those numbers are not terrible, they fall short of what the Dodgers expected after signing Tucker. He is currently on pace for career lows in batting average, home runs, and slugging percentage.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, the rest of the lineup has more than compensated for Tucker's slow start. The Dodgers rank first in MLB in on-base percentage (.342) and OPS (.774), while ranking second in batting average (.261) and third in runs scored (508).
Despite Tucker's struggles, Los Angeles owns the best record in baseball at 62-36 and remain the favorite to win their third consecutive World Series.
Tucker Named Dodgers' Key Player in Second Half
In a July 17 article, MLB.com's Sonja Chen identified Tucker as Los Angeles' key player in the second half.
"Tucker has fallen short of the expectations that came with his four-year, $240 million contract, although he seemed to be gaining some momentum heading into the All-Star break," Chen wrote. "The Dodgers were one of the highest-scoring teams in baseball in the first half, but even so, the offensive production has been inconsistent for much of the season. Having Tucker perform closer to his capabilities in the heart of the order would considerably lengthen the lineup."
Los Angeles has very few weak spots in an offense featuring All-Stars Shohei Ohtani, Andy Pages, and Freddie Freeman. Still, having Tucker return to form would make an already dangerous lineup even more formidable.
Tucker's importance could grow further as catcher Will Smith remains sidelined with neck inflammation. Smith has not played since June 5, and manager Dave Roberts announced Friday that he has been shut down for a week after his neck continued to bother him as he ramped up his activity.
A resurgence from Tucker would give Los Angeles more confidence in its offense. Beyond that, it could allow the front office to focus on acquiring a high-end starting pitcher at the trade deadline.
While the Dodgers' starting rotation has posted MLB's best ERA at 3.37 this season, health remains a concern. Both Blake Snell (loose bodies in his left elbow) and Tyler Glasnow (lower back spasms) are currently on the 60-day injured list.
Fortunately, Snell is set to begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, while Glasnow threw his first bullpen session last weekend.
Despite the Dodgers' pitching depth, the organization's aggressive reputation will likely continue leading up to the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Los Angeles has shown time and time again that they are never afraid to make blockbuster moves, most recently by signing Tucker to the largest average annual value contract in MLB history ($60 million).
The Dodgers have proven they can win even with Tucker struggling. But if Tucker can return to his All-Star form in the second half, Los Angeles' chances at capturing another championship will only grow.
