Tucker officially joins the Dodgers, choosing jersey number 23 as a dual tribute

Today, as star outfielder Kyle Tucker made his official appearance as a new Dodger, many fans of jersey numbers were eager to see his choice. Ultimately, he did not continue wearing the number 30 he had used throughout his MLB career, but selected number 23.

Typically, when a star player joins a new team, they can secure their desired number. Technically, number 30 was available, unlike Edwin Díaz who switched from 39 to 3 because 39 was retired in honor of Roy Campanella. However, it is likely that the Dodgers will retire number 30 after manager Dave Roberts' tenure ends.

As a three-time World Series-winning manager and the winningest coach in team history (with at least 500 games and a .621 winning percentage), Roberts is on a Hall of Fame trajectory and is very likely to have his number retired by the team. Beyond his personal achievements, number 30 holds a deeper significance for Roberts—it was chosen to honor the late legend Maury Wills.

"Maury and I shared a deep bond," Roberts said, "He once told me, 'I hope no one wears this number after I’m gone.' That means a lot to me."

After signing with the Dodgers, Tucker tentatively asked Roberts if it might be possible to change numbers but did not hold high hopes. Thus, he ultimately followed Roberts’ example by wearing number 23 to honor his former mentor Michael Brantley from his Astros days.

Brantley joined Houston in the 2019 season, just as Tucker was emerging in the majors. This veteran played a key role in Tucker’s development into a rising star with the Astros.

"He was a frequent companion during my growth period in Houston," Tucker said, "He’s an extraordinary player and a close friend. That greatly influenced my decision to choose number 23."

The last Dodger to wear number 23 was Michael Conforto, whose one-year contract didn’t meet expectations. The Dodgers’ four-year $240 million investment in Tucker signals their belief that the new number 23 will play a vital role in the team’s pursuit of a third consecutive championship and beyond.