When the Chicago Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker back in December, they probably hoped they were getting the guy who’s been a steady producer in the regular season, not the one who disappears when it matters most.
But if you’ve been keeping an eye on spring training, you know things are not looking great. They couldn’t be much worse. Fourteen at-bats. Zero hits.
Not exactly the kind of start that makes you want to rush out and buy a Tucker jersey. But should anyone really be surprised? If there’s one thing Astros fans could tell you, it’s that Tucker has a history of inconsistency.
The guy can rake when the games don’t have that extra layer of pressure. But the moment the stakes go up? That bat goes ice cold.
A Postseason Track Record That Raises Concerns
Let’s look at the numbers. Over his last three postseasons with the Astros, Tucker has managed to hit above .200 just once.
Last season, he had only seven postseason at-bats, but in the two years prior, he got a combined 89 at-bats and managed just 16 hits. That’s a .180 average when it mattered most.
So when you see him starting his Cubs tenure with an extended dry spell in spring training, maybe it’s not just a small-sample fluke—maybe this is just who he is when things aren’t comfortably in the “regular season” zone.
Don’t Sound the Alarm Quite Yet Cubs Fans
Let’s be fair here before Cubs fans hit the panic button. Spring training stats don’t predict what will happen in the regular season. We’ve seen guys tear it up in March and then completely disappear when the real games begin. And vice versa.
Tucker’s history shows that he can hit when the games don’t carry the weight of the postseason. Since his rookie season, he’s never finished a year batting under .250. He’s also hit at least 20 home runs in four straight seasons and posted two 100-RBI campaigns.
Last year, across 78 games with Houston, he slashed .289/.408/.585—elite production by any measure.
Can a Contract Year Bring Out the Best in Tucker?
But here’s the thing—Cubs fans didn’t just want a good regular-season hitter. They wanted a guy who could help them win in October.
If Tucker’s history is any indication, they may have just inherited a player who thrives when the lights are dim but struggles when the spotlight gets brighter. If Tucker can get hot, the Chicago could have one of the top lineups in the MLB.
The one silver lining is Tucker is in a contract year. If nothing else, he has to perform. The motivation should be there, whether it’s to earn a big payday from the Cubs or another team. The question is, when it’s crunch time, will he deliver?
Right now, Cubs fans can only hope that this slow start is nothing more than meaningless spring training noise. Because if it’s not? Let’s just say the Astros might’ve known exactly what they were doing when they let him go.
