Tucker flashes prodigious power with first spring HR as a Dodger

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Kyle Tucker had taken enough free passes this spring.

The Dodgers' star right fielder had already walked twice in as many trips to the plate on Friday night at Peoria Sports Complex. But after working a full count in his third plate appearance, he let his bat do the talking.

Tucker crushed his first home run in a Dodgers uniform, a solo shot off former L.A. farmhand Robinson Ortiz in the sixth inning of an eventual 10-7 win over the Mariners. The ball came off Tucker's bat at 108.1 mph and traveled a projected 419 feet, hitting off the batter's eye in center field.

It marked the Dodgers' first taste of the prodigious power that Tucker will bring to the top of their lineup, something they had envisioned when they signed this past offseason's consensus top free agent to a four-year, $240 million contract.

"Obviously, he takes good at-bats," manager Dave Roberts said. "So for him to get into one today, that was good for us to see, good for him. … But man, it’s just fun to watch him compete in the batter’s box.”

Tucker has only appeared in seven games this spring. He briefly departed camp when he and his wife Samantha welcomed their first child last week. In Cactus League action, Tucker has hit 3-for-12 (.250), but opposing pitchers have already taken great pains with him, as he's walked six times in 19 plate appearances.

Until Friday. Tucker was on the verge of walking for a third time, but he drove the sixth pitch he saw from Robinson -- a fastball down and inside -- to straightaway center. It should serve as a preview of what's to come from the Dodgers' No. 2 hitter, who has hit 22 or more homers in each of his last five seasons.

As impactful as it can be to add another big bat to the lineup, Tucker's discipline is just as valuable to the Dodgers.

"Obviously, he’s got the respect of the league. But also, he’s very stubborn in his zone," Roberts said. "He still values getting on base, seeing pitches. He knows what he’s hunting. To have him at the top of the order, be an on-base guy, that’s what we’re looking for.”

Earlier in Spring Training, after Tucker made his Cactus League debut -- also at Peoria Sports Complex, by coincidence -- he joked that his goal this spring was to surpass the singular hit he notched before leaving for the Tokyo Series with the Cubs last year. He's already accomplished that goal, and the Dodgers are thrilled at the prospect of what he can do when the games become meaningful.

Whether Tucker's taking a free base or circling them all, he makes a deep lineup that much more dangerous.