BREAKING: Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker has been battling a hairline fracture in his right hand since June, sources confirmed to ESPN just moments ago. The injury has severely impacted his performance, leading to a significant drop in his batting average, which now stands at a troubling .189 since July.
Tucker, 28, initially sustained the injury while sliding into second base against the Cincinnati Reds on June 1. Despite the pain, he opted against a stint on the injured list, continuing to play while posting an impressive .982 OPS that month. However, his performance has sharply declined, prompting the Cubs to give him several days off for recovery this week.
In mid-June, re-imaging confirmed that the injury was healing, but it still appeared to affect Tucker’s mechanics at the plate. “There’s no question that when you look at his numbers, it’s had an impact on him, for sure,” said Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations. “That’s the nature sometimes of these small injuries. They can do that.”
Tucker’s struggles have been stark; he has recorded just four extra-base hits in the last month, with a ground-ball rate soaring to a concerning 54 percent. Following an 0-for-4 performance on Monday, manager Craig Counsell announced Tucker would take a few days off, although he is expected to return for the upcoming West Coast trip.
The situation has not gone unnoticed in the league. Brewers manager Pat Murphy remarked on a Cubs radio show, “I think Tucker’s hurt. I don’t have any information, but Tucker’s not the same.” Despite the speculation, Tucker has remained adamant that the injury isn’t an excuse for his performance. “I’m fine,” he said recently. “I’ve played, for the most part, every game this year. I’m fine going out there.”
Earlier this season, Tucker enjoyed a stellar start, posting an OPS of .931 along with 20 stolen bases in the first three months. His efforts earned him a spot in the All-Star Game, where he made his first start in the midsummer classic. However, hand injuries can be unpredictable, often leading to extended absences or mechanical issues at the plate.
In a similar case, former teammate Yordan Alvarez has been sidelined since May due to a small fracture in his hand, further highlighting the challenges of such injuries. Tucker has largely been healthy throughout his career, aside from a shin fracture that kept him out last season. With his free agency approaching at the end of the year, the Cubs are hopeful that this brief hiatus will help him regain his form just in time for the crucial stretch run of the season.
“At the start of this for me, it was going to be two days [off],” Counsell stated earlier today. “We’ll go from there.” As the Cubs look to maintain their position in the playoff race, all eyes will be on Tucker’s recovery and performance in the coming weeks.