Los Angeles Dodgers locker room leader Miguel Rojas detailed the work he has done to get struggling star Kyle Tucker out of his slump.
Tucker, by all accounts, is a shy guy who tends to operate as an introvert. Manager Dave Roberts has noted that Tucker doesn’t show much emotion in the clubhouse.
His reputation as a guy who is always collected makes it stand out all the more when he is visibly upset after an at-bat.
That is why, when he was frustrated after a recent at-bat during the Dodgers’ homestand, Roberts elected to sit Tucker and have him ingest a game from the sidelines.
May 14, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) and shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) celebrate after defeating the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesAt Dodger Stadium, Tucker has been awful, hitting .189 with a .558 OPS. On the road, he has been more of what fans have come to expect from him, hitting .272 with a .820 OPS.
Additionally, during the Brewers series at home a week ago, he made a major defensive blunder that led to Dodger fans booing him.
With his defense and hitting looking poor, and a $60 million price tag, Tucker is in a dark place as a player, but the ever-reliable Miguel Rojas is seemingly on the case to make him feel comfortable and accepted by the team.
View this post on InstagramHow Miguel Rojas is helping Kyle TuckerOn plane rides, Tucker and Rojas play a Venezuelan card game, helping build their relationship, and Rojas says it has helped them bond.
“I have all the confidence in Tucker, and I can see deeper in him because I’m really close to him,” Rojas said on Mookie Betts’ “On Base” podcast.
“I have been taking my time to get to know him, what he likes to do, what he likes to talk about, and even teaching him this little card game from Venezuela.”
Rojas’s message is that the team is there to support him no matter what, and he should not feel isolated amid his struggles and the pressure of earning such a big money figure.
“I have been investing some time in trying to help him feel better, not just about himself, but about his teammates and the people that he is around, because I am a true believer that when you feel good, you play good,” the infielder shared.
“And when you’re like going out there every day knowing that the guys have your back, it’s a good feeling. It’s a good feeling when you get to the field, and you look to your left and right, and you see guys who are going to support me even if things are not going great.”
Apr 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) is congratulated by shortstop Miguel Rojas (72), second baseman Kiki Hernandez (8) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) after hitting a 2 RBI walk-off single in the ninth inning to defeat the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesAt the end of the day, Rojas believes Tucker will bounce back if his work to build unity pays off and Tucker feels like a key member of the Dodgers clubhouse.
“We want him to feel that the opinion that matters is the one that is in that locker room, and we all trust him and believe in him not just because of the track record, but what we can see,” Rojas added.
“If we can really make him feel free and go out there and care less about what happened in the game. I think it’s going to be a great last two of the season for him.”
If Rojas helps Tucker feel comfortable and play better, it will be another accolade in Rojas’ time as a locker room leader.
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