Star outfielder Kyle Tucker insists he isn't feeling the pressure of the expectations that came after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a historic four-year, $240-million deal.
"I don't care about that," Tucker said, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. "I'll play regardless of what my contract is or anything else. I'll play the same regardless of any outside stuff."
Tucker has just seven homers through 87 games, posting his lowest slugging percentage (.382) since his first season in 2018. His lack of offensive production comes while collecting a $57.1-million present-day AAV, the largest in MLB history when deferrals are included.
The 29-year-old four-time All-Star pointed to his inability to connect on hittable pitches early in counts as one of the reasons behind his struggles.
"Throughout the first half, I just haven't been able to put good swings," Tucker said. "That's where I'll foul it off or swing through it. And then I'm just in worse counts, and they end up having more freedom to be able to throw whatever they want.
"And then you'll just naturally start chasing, to where if I hit the ball in the first place and hit it for a single or double or whatever, just barrel something, I won't even get in those counts to have to chase something."
Despite Tucker's inconsistent bat, the Dodgers enter Wednesday's action with baseball's best record at 60-33 and an MLB-leading plus-163 run differential.
