CHICAGO — Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker has been struggling lately and took a few days off to reset after a tough stretch at the plate. Back in June, he was found to have a hairline fracture in his right hand. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed that the injury has now fully healed.
“At first, he was sore but still played,” Counsell said following the Cubs’ narrow 4-3 victory over the Brewers. Tucker, 28, chose to stay in the game rather than go on the injured list, even while boasting a solid .982 OPS at the time. However, his performance has dropped sharply since July.
The injury happened on June 1 when Tucker slid into second base against the Reds. Initially, X-rays showed no fractures, only a jammed finger. But further scans revealed a small fracture near where his pinkie and ring fingers connect. While that injury was healing, Tucker’s swing might have been affected, leading to mechanical issues.
Cubs president Jed Hoyer acknowledged, “When you look at his numbers, it’s clear that the injury affected him.” Tucker’s batting average plummeted to .189 with just four extra-base hits in two months. His ground ball rate also spiked to a concerning 54%, signaling deeper issues with his mechanics.
After an 0-for-4 outing on Monday, Counsell decided Tucker would take a short break. He is expected to return to the lineup soon as the team heads to the West Coast.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy pointed out an observation, stating, “I think Tucker’s hurt. He’s not the same.”
Despite the setbacks, Tucker has remained resilient and refuses to blame the injury for his struggles. “I’m fine,” he asserted. “I’ve played almost every game this year.” At the start of the season, Tucker was on fire, notching an OPS of .931 and contributing 20 stolen bases in just three months. He also made his fourth All-Star Game appearance, starting for the first time in his eight-year career.
Hand injuries can be tricky. They often linger and can affect swinging mechanics significantly. For context, Tucker’s former teammate, Yordan Alvarez, has been sidelined since early May with a similar injury. Tucker’s durability has generally been solid; however, he missed time last season due to a shin fracture. He’s also heading toward free agency at the end of the season, adding pressure to his performance.
This brief downtime might just be what Tucker needs to regain his form for the Cubs as they push for playoff contention. “Initially, the plan was to take two days off,” Counsell explained. “We’ll evaluate from there.”
By taking the time to recover, Tucker hopes to turn his season around and contribute to his team’s success as the season heats up.
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