Dodgers fans will love the hilarious coincidence in Kyle Tucker choosing No. 23

At Kyle Tucker's introductory press conference, he and the Dodgers announced that he would be wearing No. 23 for the duration of his stay in Los Angeles.

There was some intention behind the choice. Tucker has worn No. 30 since 2020, after Héctor Rondón's two-year stint with the Astros was up. He took it to the Cubs and would've liked to take it to the Dodgers if not for Dave Roberts, who wore No. 30 during his stint playing with the Dodgers and took it back when he took over the skipper role. Roberts wears it in honor of mentor and fellow former Dodgers player Maury Wills, a legendary baserunner in LA.

Other managers might be inclined to cede their number to the new star player, but Roberts is keeping his. That's the kind of pull only he and Terry Francona — future Hall of Fame managers, in all probability — are afforded. Whenever Roberts decides to call it quits, it's more likely than not that the Dodgers will retire his number.

Tucker switched to No. 23 in honor of his own mentor Michael Brantley, who retired in 2024. It also happened to be Michael Conforto's number during his unforgettably bad year in LA.

Kyle Tucker will wear No. 23 with the Dodgers — Michael Conforto's old number

What we have here is a delightfully literal representation of the upgrade the Dodgers are getting in Tucker. Conforto had just about the worst qualified ... everything last season — 11th percentile in batting run value, 28th in baserunning run value, and 8th in fielding run value. He couldn't keep himself from falling under the Mendoza line; he hit .199 with a .637 OPS on the season. And yet, the Dodgers continued giving him at-bats because they refused to admit that they'd made a mistake.

Conforto won a World Series and made $17 million despite not being on a single postseason roster and being not only the worst Dodgers hitter but one of the worst hitters in baseball. He still has yet to find a new home for 2026.

Tucker is a four-time All-Star, three-time MVP candidate, two-time Silver Slugger and Gold Glover, but you didn't have to know all of that to know that Tucker is just better in every conceivable way (not that Conforto set a high bar there).

We're relieved for the No. 23. It now has a very good shot at being remembered fondly in LA.