Cubs think this player will have his best year yet in 2025 - and it's not Kyle Tucker

It's hard to say any player carries loftier expectations than new Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker. After all, Jed Hoyer and the front office paid top-dollar for one year of the three-time All-Star and, with all signs pointing to him departing in free agency next winter, it's very much an all-in season for him as he looks to set himself up for a massive contract.

But one Cubs player, specifically, could stand to benefit immensely from Tucker's arrival - and that's Seiya Suzuki. This winter, the impact of Tucker joining the Cubs on Suzuki and his role with the team took center stage when Suzuki's agent, Joel Wolfe, expressed displeasure with his client being set up for a full-time DH role in 2025.

While he may not want to move out of the outfield, Suzuki thrived as the team's designated hitter late last season and, since Aug. 2023, he ranks as one of the 10 best hitters in all of Major League Baseball in terms of OPS. The scary part? Hoyer expects there's still more untapped potential in Suzuki's offensive profile.

“He’s very underrated, he said this week on Marquee Sports Network. “I don’t think he’s had his best season yet. I think it’s still in there for him. He’s still learning the pitchers over here. I think he’s just going to continue to get better and better.”

Last season, Suzuki was the Cubs' most valuable offensive weapon (138 OPS+), setting a career-high with 21 homers. There's definitely reason to believe there's more power in his bat and he could be a 30-homer guy in 2025, especially with protection like Tucker, Ian Happ and a healthy Dansby Swanson around him - not to mention first baseman Michael Busch at first and a more well-rounded bench.

If he can go from being a 20/70 guy to a 25/85 or 30/100 presence, the feel of this entire lineup changes drastically. Virtually all of the projection models have him being what he's been to this point: a .275 hitter who hits 20 homers and drives in 70-75 runs. But the Cubs clearly think he's capable of taking that next step and are betting heavily on his ability to form a powerful 1-2 punch with Tucker.

A lot still hinges on production from the bottom of the order, with Matt Shaw, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya carrying some question marks heading into the year. But the top of the Cubs' lineup has the potential to be among the best in the National League if Suzuki delivers the way the front office believes he can.