Dodgers notes: Kyle Tucker, Roki Sasaki, Ontario prospects

Q: What is Kyle Tucker's batting average with the Dodgers in 2026?

Kyle Tucker has a batting average of .237 in his first season with the Dodgers.

Q: Who is Kyle Tucker's hitting coach with the Dodgers?

Kyle Tucker's hitting coach with the Dodgers is Aaron Bates.

Q: What did Aaron Bates say about Kyle Tucker's early struggles?

Aaron Bates mentioned that Tucker might be trying too hard and is in the process of settling in.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) and New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) look on during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 13, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kyle Tucker is off to a slow start in his first season with the Dodgers, hitting just .237/.352/.305 in the early going after walking twice in four plate appearances on Monday.

Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic earlier Monday talked to Tucker and hitting coach Aaron Bates about the outfielder’s early struggles:

“I think he’s probably trying a little bit hard,” hitting coach Aaron Bates told The Athletic. “He’s just getting settled in a little bit. Everyone’s always trying hard, so I don’t want to say it that way, but it’s more so (that he’s) trying to force it, maybe force hits.”

Roki Sasaki hasn’t been effective in his three starts so far this season, including Sunday’s loss, but the Dodgers plan to keep starting him in the major league rotation for the time being.

Dylan Hernández at the California Post surmised that Sasaki’s leash might only extend until Blake Snell can return from the injured list, which is expected at some point in late May.

Maddie Lee at the Los Angeles Times wrote about Sunday’s start, with Sasaki still trying to find a way to pitch deeper into games.

With the 79th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s Dodgers debut coming Wednesday, Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com wrote about Robinson’s activism.

Shortstop Emil Morales, who was named to several top-100 prospect lists before the season, is hitting .367/.444/.500 in the early going for Class-A Ontario, which earned high praise at Baseball Prospectus.

He’s starting the year back in California, likely to spare him the brutal Michigan spring, but Morales will soon be making his debut at Great Lakes, and I look forward to seeing him compete against the advanced pitching that the Midwest League will offer,“ Nathan Graham wrote of the 19-year-old. ”The Dodgers are loaded with high-upside positional prospects, but with Morales a potential power-hitting shortstop, he might have the highest ceiling of them all.

Brendan Tunink is hitting .257/.406/.786 with three home runs and three doubles in seven games for Ontario, which landed the 20-year-old outfielder on MLB Pipeline’s prospect team of the week.