Kyle Tucker hits first Dodgers home run with towering spring blast

PEORIA, Ariz. –– It was the first, the Dodgers hope, of many.

On Friday night, in a 10-7 win against the Seattle Mariners in a spring game at Peoria Sports Complex, newest star signing Kyle Tucker delivered his first home run as a member of the team, clanging a mammoth 419-foot blast halfway up the center field batter’s eye.

“For him to get into one today, that was good for us to see, good for him,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Man, it’s just fun to watch him compete in the batter’s box.”

Friday’s home run came at the end of a full-count battle, with Tucker staying alive on a two-strike slider against Mariners left-hander (and former Dodgers prospect) Robinson Ortiz before rocketing a fastball with a 108.1 mph exit velocity.

“That,” Roberts said of the four-time All-Star and $240 million offseason signing, “certainly epitomizes what he does with the bat.”

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The sequence was also Tucker’s first real highlight of the spring, after a relatively quiet start to Cactus League play.

Up to that point, Tucker had only two hits in 11 at-bats –– having missed a week at the start of the month to return home to Florida for the birth of his first child –– albeit while drawing six walks and only striking out twice.

“It seems like every at-bat he’s running a three-ball count,” Roberts said.

Power is only part of the offensive profile that has made Tucker one of the premier offensive threats in the sport. His career-high for a season is 30 (accomplished in both 2021 and 2022). 

But, the Dodgers are hoping it’s an area where he can flourish this season, optimistic the 29-year-old will emerge as an MVP candidate in his debut season in LA.

On Friday, he offered his first preview of what’s expected to come.

Here are four other takeaways from the game.

Spray the seeds: Teoscar Hernández continued his big spring performance Friday, launching an opposite-field blast for his second home run in as many nights. Hernández is now batting .467 in camp. Outfield prospect James Tibbs III also went deep, and added a double to continue his big camp.

Hen-reset: It’s been a rough spring for Edgardo Henriquez. But he finally produced his first clean outing on Friday, striking three batters and retiring all four he faced in 1 1/3 innings. Previously, he had given up five hits and four walks in his first five outings.

Caught my eye: Tommy Edman has resumed on-field batting practice in camp recently, getting back in the cage for more swing on Friday afternoon. He is continuing to recover from an offseason ankle surgery that will sideline him for opening day, but isn’t expected to keep him out long once the season begins.

Up next: The Dodgers will be the road team in their own ballpark Saturday, when they face their Camelback Ranch neighbors, the Chicago White Sox, at 1:05 p.m. Justin Wrobleski will get the start.