Tucker revealed his reason for choosing his new jersey number during his introductory press conference.
“He was the guy I hung out with a lot in Houston. He was a phenomenal baseball player and one of my best friends,” Tucker said.
The four-time All-Star was teammates with Brantley during his time with the Astros from 2019 to 2023. They both played pivotal roles with the Astros, leading them to their second title in franchise history in 2022.
The 29-year-old wore No. 30 with the Astros and Chicago Cubs last season, but he couldn’t do the same with the Dodgers because manager Dave Roberts already owns that number. With Roberts’ number 30 likely to be retired in the future, Tucker had an additional reason to choose a different jersey.
Can Kyle Tucker make the Dodgers even more dominant in 2026?
Tucker now joins the Dodgers as he looks to win his second career title and help the Dodgers complete the three-peat. He will play a crucial role for the Dodgers in what should be an exciting season for the team.
The last thing the Dodgers are missing is star power. With a team full of superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Edwin Diaz, to name a few, Tucker could be the unsung hero some nights.
His playing doesn’t scream unsung hero, though; it screams franchise cornerstone elsewhere. Tucker joins LA as a proven elite talent. Over his career, the Florida native has slashed .273/.358/.507 with an .865 OPS, tallying 147 home runs, 490 RBIs, 119 stolen bases, 456 runs and 748 hits in 769 games.
The Dodgers are out for blood this season, and they’ve made that clear with their two big signings: Kyle Tucker and All-Star closer Diaz. LA has gotten a lot of attention for its approach to free agency, but they are playing by the rules and taking full advantage of strategies that most teams are unwilling or unable to employ.
Sure, the Dodgers may be overwhelmed, but they’re making baseball exciting again — if they weren’t already.
With Andrew Friedman at the helm, the Dodgers’ decision makers are doing everything they can to keep the organization firmly at the top, which is why they are perhaps the best-managed franchise in all of sports.
Notable Dodgers to wear number 23 in franchise history
Tucker has a chance to become the best player to wear number 23 for the Dodgers; however, that title belongs to World Series hero Kirk Gibson. Gibson, of course, is best known for his 1988 Game 1 World Series walk-off home run over the then-Oakland Athletics, giving LA a 1-0 lead in the series. It is perhaps the most iconic play in all of sports.
Other notable players to don number 23 for LA include Adrian Gonzalez, Derek Lowe, Erick Karros, Jim Wynn, Jason Heyward and, most recently, Michael Conforto.
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