The veteran has been a fixture in October baseball for the past six seasons, including catching the final out of the Astros’ World Series victory over the Phillies three years ago. Now with the Cubs, he intends to extend his postseason streak with his new team.
“We had a lot of success as a team in Houston, and I hope to continue that here,” Tucker said. “I’m excited to get going with these guys. We have a really strong roster, and I think we have a great chance to make the playoffs and compete for a World Series.”
On Friday, Tucker participated in his first full-squad workout of the spring with the Cubs, who acquired him in a high-profile trade with the Astros in December. This marks his first Spring Training with a new team after spending parts of seven seasons in the Majors with Houston, which drafted him fifth overall in 2015.
Tucker had previously spent time at the Cubs’ facility during his Arizona Fall League days as a prospect, so he’s somewhat familiar with the surroundings. However, the faces around him are new, as is the added expectation of leading a team looking to end its playoff drought.
The Cubs are confident he can handle the challenge.
“One of Kyle’s strengths is his ability to keep things simple,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s a real asset in this game. He embraces that approach, and that’s a good thing. When you hear that from a player, you take some time to observe, and then you pick your moments.”
Counsell won’t have any trouble slotting Tucker into the lineup, given his offensive production. Over the past four seasons, he has posted an .888 OPS and a 145 OPS+, while accumulating 21.1 bWAR in 525 games—equivalent to 6.5 WAR per 162 games.
Last season, injuries limited Tucker to 78 games, but he still put up impressive numbers, hitting .289/.408/.585 with 23 home runs, 49 RBIs, and more walks (56) than strikeouts (54), contributing 4.7 bWAR.
“He’s a true superstar,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “He does everything well on the field, which is rare, even among perennial All-Stars.”
Tucker noted that having veteran reliever Ryan Pressly, who was also acquired from the Astros, in camp has been a plus. He’s also worked out with right-hander Nate Pearson in the offseason, providing another familiar face. Tucker had hoped Alex Bregman would join him in Chicago via free agency, but the former Astros star instead signed with Boston.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed I won’t be playing with him this year,” Tucker said. “But you never know what the future holds. He’s an incredible player and person. I didn’t try to influence his decision—it’s a personal choice.”
As for his own future, Tucker is set to hit free agency after this season, making this year even more meaningful as he aims to maximize his time with a Cubs team built for a deep postseason run.
“For now, I’m a Chicago Cub,” Tucker said. “I’m excited to be here and help this team win.”
