Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker tends to deflect attention to his teammates, even when receiving an individual honor.
Tucker was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday, the first weekly honor of his career. Tucker hit .391 with three home runs, eight RBIs, three doubles, eight walks, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases, a .913 slugging percentage and a .548 on-base percentage in six games.
Tucker said it was nice to receive the recognition for his offensive performance, but “I think a lot of it just kind of stems from our whole lineup.”
“I mean, everyone’s been putting together really good at-bats, and I just want to just continue that in my part,” Tucker said. “So I feel pretty good at the plate right now and the field and everything. I just try and have good at-bats and keep it rolling for the rest of us.”
While it’s a small sample size, Tucker has recorded 12 walks in 12 games entering Monday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers. His 20.3% walk rate to date continues the trend of improved patience Tucker has displayed over the last four years, seeing that figure go from 9.7% in 2022 to 11.9% and 16.5% in the last two years.
“I think earlier in my career, I mean, I can hit pitches off the plate,” Tucker said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean I should swing at them or want to do that, but I think if you just have good plate discipline and able to take those pitches that are close or just off or whatever and get into better counts, you’ll get better pitches to hit, or you just draw some walks to keep the line moving, or get guys in scoring position or bring them in. So that’s what I like to do.”
Tucker, who turned 28 in January, is setting himself up for a big payday when he hits free agency after this season. One impending free agent is off the market. The Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. agreed to a 15-year, $500 million contract extension Sunday.
“It was what he wanted to do and I’m sure he loves playing in Toronto and everything so that’s great for him, but I mean, everyone’s a little different,” Tucker said. “Right now I’m here to play this year and play for the Cubs, so I’m excited to get out there and play again tonight, just kind of see where everything goes after that.”
Asked whether it’s important to spend the whole season in Chicago to better judge playing for the Cubs, Tucker said, “it’s been great ever since I came over here. Right now, I don’t have anything, so I can’t really give you anything.
“I’m just here to play some baseball and see what happens after that.”
Guerrero’s contract extension doesn’t serve as a direct comparison to what Tucker could earn, as Guerrero turned 26 last month. But it will take a large contract for whichever team signs Tucker, a level the Cubs have shown in the past they aren’t inclined to reach either in years or total sum. As for any contract talk deadlines, Tucker didn’t delve into whether he has given his agency or the Cubs front office any communication on how he wants the season to proceed.
“I haven’t thought about it that much,” Tucker said. “I’m just trying to come out here and play and put up wins and get my numbers and whatever. I’m just here to play baseball, so I let the other stuff kind of fall where it is and see what happens.”
If his uncertain future is weighing on Tucker at all, it didn’t impact him through the first week of the season, an encouraging sign for a situation that will only garner more scrutiny as the end of the season approaches.
“It’s been fun watching Kyle kind of at the peak of who he is as an offensive player,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s just so locked in from pitch one and ready to do damage and at the same time spitting on the stuff he doesn’t want to swing at.”
