by Cary Osborne
The Dodgers are getting an extraordinary talent in outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Tucker finalized a four-year deal with the Dodgers on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old has been an All-Star each of the past four seasons. He is a two-time Silver Slugger (including in 2025 in his only season with the Chicago Cubs), a 2022 Gold Glove Award winner, and he one of the best position players in the game. Tucker ranks 11th this decade in both bWAR (27.4) and fWAR (25.2) among position players.
But there’s more:
He hits lefties and righties: The left-handed hitter batted .264/.383/.465/.849 vs. right-handers and .269/.365/.461/.826 vs. left-handed pitching last year.
Over the last three seasons, the splits are .277/.387/.513/.900 vs right-handers and .281/.368/.508/.876 vs. lefties.
He was on the verge of something bigger the last two seasons: Tucker fractured his shin on June 3, 2024. He had 19 home runs and a .979 OPS at the time through 60 games.
He suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand on June 1, 2025. He had 12 home runs and a .918 OPS through 59 games. He played through it.
Still, Tucker had an .895 OPS, 156 OPS+, 45 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 214 games. The 156 OPS+ ranks fourth in the Majors over the last two seasons (minimum 200 games). The 156 OPS+ means he was 56% better than league average.
He doesn’t chase: He had the third-lowest percentage of swings outside of the strike zone in 2025 (18.3%).
He’ll take a walk: His 13.9% walk rate ranks seventh in the Majors over the last three seasons. It was 14.6% last season.
He is a rare breed: Only three players in the Majors have a walk rate over 10% the last three seasons and a strikeout rate within one percent of their walk rate:
· Juan Soto: 18.2 BB%/18.0 K%
· Tucker: 13.9 BB%/14.5 K%
· Mookie Betts: 11.6 BB%/12.4 K%
He is a dual offensive threat: Tucker is one of 12 Major Leaguers with at least 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases this decade.
Kyle Tucker brings dynamic offense to the Dodgers was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.