Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, currently a free agent after this season, was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand that originated from a slide on June 1, reports ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. The fracture was located where Tucker’s pinky and ring finger meet and has since fully healed, according to the team.
Manager Reflects on Injury and Its Impact
Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed Tucker’s condition, explaining that although the player experienced soreness, he continued to play through the discomfort.
“He was sore for a little while but was able to play,”
Counsell told ESPN.
“He had some more imaging, and it showed a small fracture that was healing.”
Tucker’s Performance Struggles Amid Injury
At 28 years old, Tucker entered Thursday with a batting line of .261/.374/.447, tallying 18 home runs and 25 stolen bases out of 27 attempts this season. Despite these numbers, he has been struggling recently, with a slump lasting nearly two months that led to him sitting out games to mentally and physically reset.
Monthly performance metrics highlight the decline in Tucker’s output as the season progressed:
June: .935 OPS, 12.4% strikeout rate, 15.2% walk rate, 24.8% hard-hit rate
July: .982 OPS, 19.2% strikeout rate, 12.5% walk rate, 35.7% hard-hit rate
August: .675 OPS, 10.8% strikeout rate, 20.6% walk rate, 33.8% hard-hit rate
Recent games: .381 OPS, 23.0% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate, 53.7% hard-hit rate
Insights From Cubs Leadership on Tucker’s Struggles
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports connected Tucker’s slump to the impact of his then-undiagnosed hand injury, an observation supported by Cubs executive Jed Hoyer.
“I know it did bother him for a while,”
Hoyer told MLB.com.
“I don’t know whether it still bothers him, whether it created some bad habits along the way with compensating and things like that. There’s no question that when you look at his numbers, it’s had an impact on him, for sure. That’s the nature sometimes of these small injuries. They can do that.”
Upcoming Schedule Adds Pressure on Struggling Cubs Star
The Cubs are set to finish a five-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday before embarking on a nine-game, three-city road trip along the West Coast. This stretch will test the team and Tucker’s ability to regain form as the season moves forward.