Tucker gains rhythm as Dodgers begin search for three-time championship

ByDavid Mitchell
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Kyle Tucker, one of the Dodgers’ star signings in the offseason, shined in the debut of the World Series champions who started their quest for a three-time championship on the right foot.

LOS ANGELES – Kyle Tucker’s first three at-bats produced powerful hits that ended in outs. In his fourth at-bat, during the seventh inning on Thursday, Shohei Ohtani came out to steal second base and Tucker hit a fastball thrown on a maximum count and just over the plate, sending it into the gap between right and center field to further extend his new team’s lead. It was exactly what the Los Angeles Dodgers had envisioned when they signed Tucker – the top free agent on the market – to a four-year, $240 million contract in January…except for the ending.

Tucker tried to perform the now emblematic Dodger dance, in which they move their arms and hips from side to side in a somewhat clumsy manner every time they drive in runs; However, Tucker only half managed to do it. His arms moved, but his hips did not.

“I might have to polish the celebration thing a little more,” Tucker admitted after his team’s emphatic 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Opening Day, “but we’ll have plenty of time to work on it.”

In fact, it was just one of the 162 games of the regular season; the first of what the Dodgers hope will be many more wins and many more RBIs with Tucker’s help. However, it served as a snapshot of what makes them such a dangerous team.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto limited the D-backs to a single two-run homer by Geraldo Perdomo over six innings, using a six-pitch combination to keep them constantly off balance. For its part, the Dodgers’ offense – which had been contained to just two runners on base against Zac Gallen during the first four innings – exploded with four runs in both the fifth and seventh innings; Over the course of those, they hit home runs courtesy of Andy Pages and Will Smith, and had a combined 12 runners on base. In total, the Dodgers had 10 hits, seven of which came on a two-strike count. Ten of the balls they hit exceeded 100 miles per hour, including three hits by Ohtani.

“It sure must be exhausting going up against our guys and feeling like you have to be perfect,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Just having to keep executing and executing pitches is exhausting, both mentally and physically. As long as we can maintain the discipline we showed tonight, we will have opportunities to put up big numbers.”

Roberts began his day by placing a bottle of 90-proof Traveler whiskey in each of his players’ locker, an offering to commemorate the start of another long journey. However, he was overshadowed by Ohtani, who gifted each of his teammates and coaches with Seiko watches worth thousands of dollars.

“Happy Opening Day!!!” read a note attached to Ohtani’s gift bag. “Let’s go for the three-time championship!!!”

Throughout the long history of Major League Baseball, only two franchises – the New York Yankees and the then-Oakland Athletics – have managed to win three consecutive titles. The Dodgers aspire to become the first National League team to achieve such a feat, just after becoming the first champions to retain their title in a quarter of a century. Hoping to achieve this, they opened their wallets again this offseason: they signed Edwin Díaz to reinforce their questionable ninth inning and added Tucker to solidify their position as the team with the greatest depth and talent in the entire sport. The expectation is that players like Diaz and Tucker will not only improve the roster, but that the continued addition of impact players will inject energy into the locker room and prevent complacency. Brandon Gomes, general manager of the Dodgers, was able to verify this effect during spring training, a period in which he observed “a level of concentration almost higher than what we saw last year.”

“The most important thing we talked about is that last year has nothing to do with this year,” said Gomes, “just as it had nothing to do with the previous year.”

To commemorate the start of their season this Thursday, the Dodgers aired a sketch that culminated with comedian Will Ferrell driving a blue lowrider, while Miguel Rojas and Freddie Freeman each held a championship trophy in the back seat. On Friday, the Dodgers will hold their ring ceremony; Clayton Kershaw – who served as an analyst on NBC’s Opening Day broadcast – is also expected to be present.

The players enjoy participating in all that pomp and ceremony, but mentally, they have already moved on.

“We obviously enjoy winning back-to-back titles,” said Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, “but it’s almost like it’s old news. We’re not really focused on that anymore. Now we’re focused on Game 2. We do a great job here of taking things one day at a time. We know we have a big goal, but the only way to get there is to take it one step at a time.”

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.