Kyle Tucker knows what’s being said about him.
About how he lacks enthusiasm for baseball.
About how he doesn’t have the heart to play through injuries.
About how his $240-million contract was an overpay for a player with only one top-five finish in MVP voting.
Introduced as the Dodgers’ latest addition in a Wednesday morning news conference, the 29-year-old outfielder said his understated personality shouldn’t be mistaken for absence of passion.
“I know what I try and do on the field and what I bring in the clubhouse,” Tucker said.
Which would make sense.
Players without internal drives usually don’t develop the kind of well-rounded game that made Tucker the grand prize of this free-agent market. They might have their moments, but they don’t maintain their performance levels for enough time to become four-time All-Stars, as Tucker has.
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An absence of passion is alarming for a region in which Dwight Howard failed the Lakers, Anthony Rendon destroyed the Angels and Chip Kelly obliterated UCLA football, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was certain Tucker has the fortitude that belongs on a high-character team.
“There’s an inner fire I’ve seen,” manager Dave Roberts said.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he picked up on that in his conversations with Tucker.
Friedman said Tucker showed he valued the details of the game. He said Tucker was interested in how the Dodgers could assist him in becoming a better player, whether it be in the batter’s box, in the outfield, or on the basepaths.
“Having a guy who has achieved what he has, but still has that mentality of, ‘How do I get better?’” Friedman said. “Those are the guys that make it easier to bet on.”
Friedman wondered how much the public perception of Tucker has been hurt because he doesn’t have an “outward, exuberant personality.”
Judging by his introductory news conference, Tucker is Shohei Ohtani without his disarming smile.
His delivery was monotone. He registered no emotion as he relayed a light-hearted story about Freddie Freeman FaceTiming him to tell him to not do “anything stupid.”
About the only time Tucker became animated was when he leaped to the defense of Roberts when I teased the manager for not relinquishing his No. 30 jersey to him. (Roberts wears the number in honor of late mentor Maury Wills.)
There were traces of his emotional investment, however.
“I try and do my best out there, regardless of how I feel or what the situation is,” he said.
Tucker was slowed by injuries over the last two years.
He spoke about what he could contribute to the team when he was slumping — by moving runners over, by making pitchers work, by drawing walks.
“Little things like that can add up to a lot of wins throughout the season,” he said.
Tucker played in the postseason in each of the last seven years and said he was looking forward to returning with the Dodgers.
“I’m fired up,” he said.
Perhaps Tucker’s personality will emerge in time. Los Angeles can have that effect on players.
Tucker will wear No. 23 with the Dodgers, inheriting a number once worn by Adrian Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was known as an introvert when he was acquired by the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade in 2012. By his second season with him, he was raising his hands to the sides of his helmet as if they were Mickey Mouse ears. He quickly became one of the most popular Dodgers of his generation.
And, remember, it was only a couple of years ago that Mookie Betts’ focus was being questioned. Two more World Series championships and a successful move to shortstop have dispelled any misgivings about Betts’ dedication.
As were the cases with Gonzalez and Betts, the Dodgers believe there’s more in Tucker than he has shown.
“I do think that Kyle’s mindset on the micro, the day-to-day, just winning a baseball game, that’s in line with what we do,” Roberts said.
The manager continued, “Do I think [he could be] an MVP candidate? Absolutely. Do I think he can win a Gold Glove? Absolutely.”
Tucker does that, and he could be in line for another contract with the Dodgers. Tucker’s deal is for four years, with opt-outs after the second and third years.
“In two or three years, we’ll know a lot more about things than we do now,” Friedman said.
More specifically, they’ll know more about how seriously Tucker takes the game. They’ll know if he can be more than a reinforcement on an already-loaded roster. They’ll know if he is the caliber of player, and person, around which a championship team can be built.
