Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker earned a notable award after a disastrous regular season for his sensational October.
Tucker flopped in the regular season, given his $60 million contract and what was expected of him in a supposed Dodgers super-lineup.
His season was his worst since his rookie year, with a .233/.330/.385 line, 17 home runs, and a league-average 100 wRC+.
He was valued at just 0.9 fWAR. Tucker had little hard contact, more strikeouts than usual, and fewer walks than normal.
Jun 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) reacts on third base after a double by left fielder Ryan Ward (not shown) in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium . Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images
It was bizarre for a player who became a lock for an All-Star nod and was regularly a top-20 player in the league.
However, things started to ramp up in the last month of action, and that hot hitting carried into the postseason.
He played in eight playoff games, had 31 plate appearances, and hit one home run, scored four runs, drove in two runs, and stole two bases.
Tucker finished with a line of .333/.419/.519, far better than the regular season, and was arguably the best player on the team throughout the postseason.
Now, after the postseason, Tucker has received an MLB All-Postseason Team nod via MLB.com.
"To his credit, Tucker put a lost regular season behind him and looked at his best in the postseason — ironic, too, considering how the rest of L.A.'s high-powered lineup slumped around him," Jared Greenspan wrote for MLB.com.
Sep 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Tucker and the Dodgers now get the chance to regroup, assess what happened, and work on avoiding another disappointing regular season.
His postseason exploits weren't enough to erase his regular-season slump, but an All-Star-caliber year in 2027 would put that down year behind him.
After the season, Tucker seemed grateful to Dodgers fans for their support.
"Through every high and low, thank you to our fans for riding with us all season, Tucker wrote. "We appreciate the love and support more than you know. This isn't the end – we'll be back."
