Kyle Tucker’s difficult first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers has taken another turn after the $240 million star was booed by his own fans during Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
A defensive mistake in the ninth inning proved to be the moment that pushed the frustration at Dodger Stadium over the edge.
Tucker went 0-for-3 in the Dodgers’ 6-2 defeat and finished the team’s seven-game homestand without a hit, going 0-for-19. He also came into the game batting just .043 over his previous seven games.
The 29-year-old’s problems have been particularly noticeable at home. He was batting .189/.286/.272 at Dodger Stadium, while his overall season numbers had fallen to a .232 average and 97 wRC+.
Kyle Tucker’s Dodgers struggles have now turned the home crowd against him
The latest incident came when Tucker failed to secure what should have been a catchable fly ball from Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio.
After the ball got away from him, Tucker jogged after it and Luis Lara was able to race to third base. The reaction from the Dodger Stadium crowd was immediate.
That was enough to bring another round of boos for a player who has already experienced hostile receptions this season.
Tucker was booed by Cubs fans during his return to Wrigley Field earlier this month after leaving Chicago in free agency. He had also heard boos during a return to Houston.
This time, however, the criticism came from his own supporters.
Los Angeles has also struggled as a team. The Dodgers have lost 11 of their last 16 games since July 31 and dropped three of four against Milwaukee.
Manager Dave Roberts has already tried giving Tucker time away from the lineup. After leaving him out on Saturday, Roberts admitted the situation was becoming frustrating.
‘This has been four, five, six weeks of below-average production from our offense,’ Roberts said following Sunday’s defeat.
Tucker is not the only Dodgers player struggling, but his contract means the attention is naturally greater. Los Angeles invested $240 million expecting one of baseball’s most reliable hitters, yet the return has not matched those expectations.
For now, a trip away from Dodger Stadium could give Tucker a chance to reset. After another rough home series, though, the pressure surrounding the Dodgers’ biggest offseason signing is only growing.
Read more: