MINNEAPOLIS – As if his season wasn’t already shaping into a disaster.
Outfielder Kyle Tucker had to be removed from the Dodgers’ series opener against the Minnesota Twins with lower back spasms.
The $240-million outfielder drew a one-out walk in the second inning but appeared to be injured advancing to second base on a single by Tommy Edman.
Tucker is batting .234 with six home runs and 40 runs batted in in 75 games.
Tucker’s struggles was a talking point in manager Dave Roberts’ pregame address with the media.
“No player wants to not perform up to their capabilities,” Roberts said.
Roberts called on Tucker to rediscover his identity as a hitter, to be “a guy that really controls the strike zone.”
“If we can get him back to being who he is, then we’ll bet on the results,” Roberts said.