Kyle Tucker, one of the more reserved superstars in MLB these days, has a few things to learn with the Dodgers after joining the back-to-back World Series champions on a four-year, $240 million contract this offseason.
Luckily, vibrant clubhouse presence Miguel Rojas is there to assist.
Rojas was seen teaching Tucker how to do the Dodgers’ well-known hit celebration during Monday’s exhibition game against the Angels. Tucker singled to left field during the fourth inning (two batters after a Rojas home run) and gave a bit of a half-hearted “hip lock,” which the Dodgers have used for a few years after getting on base.
Back in the dugout, Rojas was trying to get Tucker to mimic the full-blown move: arms extended up high then bent over one side with the opposite knee raised. Tucker still didn’t fully commit to the move, but he extended his arms farther than his first attempt and gave a huge smile. Rojas donned a proud smirk of approval and gave a few claps to his brand-new teammate.
Perhaps it’s a byproduct of winning as much as they have lately, or perhaps it was just good creativity, but the Dodgers’ celebration is awfully recognizable. And while many clubs devise new celebrations each year, Los Angeles has not (minus a brief stint mocking one of Shohei Ohtani’s sponsorship deals). When you’ve won two trophies in a row, why switch things up?
Rojas broke it all down in a 2024 TikTok posted to the Dodgers’ team account. The “hip lock” is an ode to, well, the hip locks team strength coaches have the players do each day. That’s reserved for base hits.
On doubles, the player raises his arms straight up and waves back and forth -- kind of like an inflatable tube guy at a car dealership. That comes from the dance moves first baseman Freddie Freeman displayed at the Dodgers’ 2023 Blue Diamond Gala with Usher performing.
Tucker, joining the reigning champs after his fourth straight All-Star season and lone campaign with the Cubs, has had at least 133 hits and 25 doubles in each of his four full, healthy seasons. He better get those moves down.
Meanwhile, Rojas has announced that he plans for the 2026 season to be his last, and he’s seemingly determined to get the new guy up to speed for the club’s future.