Something is wrong with Dodgers' Kyle Tucker

TL;DR

Kyle Tucker of the Los Angeles Dodgers has a strikeout rate of 23.2% this season, significantly higher than his previous rates. This marks an increase of nearly 10% from last year.

Key points

Kyle Tucker's strikeout rate is 23.2% this season
This is a significant increase from last year's rate
Tucker's previous high was 16% in the 2020 season

Kyle TuckerLos Angeles Dodgers

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The MLB season isn't quite a month old, but it's getting to the point when some numbers start to have some validity and solidity to them.

Kyle Tucker's strikeout rate with the Los Angeles Dodgers, for example, has begun to be a storyline.

This is what Dodgers beat writer Blake Harris wrote on X on Tuesday night:

"3 more strikeouts today, giving him a 23.2 K% on the season Entering this year, Kyle Tucker hadn't posted a strikeout rate above 16% since the 2020 shortened season His strikeout rate is up nearly 10% from last year."

To be clear, he's saying that Tucker's strikeout rate is up 10 percentage points. That's a big year-to-year increase.

It's certainly not what the Dodgers would've wanted to see from their massive offseason signing.

MORE:Wait, Aaron Judge at third base?

Tucker is in a fascinating spot, no longer needing to be the best hitter in his own lineup. Has that changed his approach in a negative way?

It's still a bit too early to make wide-sweeping declarations, but it's clear Tucker is putting together an overall decline in at bat quality from his seasons past with the Astros and Cubs.

He's still adjusting to a new environment, and there are still enough signs that Tucker is a high-end hitter to give up on him.

But right now, he hasn't been good enough. And if his strikeout rate remains higher than it has been pretty much ever, that won't help him reach his peak performance level.