How Kyle Tucker is Fitting in During Chicago Cubs Spring Training

Stop me if you heard this before but did you know the Chicago Cubs' superstar Kyle Tucker is hitless during Cactus League games this season?

Entering play on Saturday. Tucker has yet to collect a hit through his first 21 plate appearances during spring training. Cubs fans may be having flashbacks of when Dansby Swanson struggled mightily during his first Cactus League with the Cubs.

As was the case with Swanson and most veterans, spring training games are often when they work on a very specific part of their game. Anyone who has watched the Cubs' Cactus League games this season knows that Tucker has been driving the ball despite having zeroes for a batting average.

While Tucker may be "struggling" offensively, it didn't take long for his Cubs' teammates to realize the superstar he is. In collecting assessments of how Tucker has fit with the Cubs already, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic highlights the hope that the All-Star outfielder elevates the play of those around him. Nico Hoerner was among the Cubs players who spoke to Mooney.

“He’s a true superstar,” Hoerner said. “He’s an incredible player. He does absolutely every part of baseball well, which you don’t really see from many players, even guys that are All-Stars every year. There’s not many guys that truly do all parts of the game at a high level. He does that, and it makes everyone around you better.”

Kyle Tucker is emerging as a leader in the Cubs' clubhouse

In many ways, Tucker is the superstar version of Swanson. Tucker won't neccessarily be front-and-center with reporters while serving as the public voice of the clubhouse, That most likely will be Justin Turner. But in beinng the super MVP candidate that his play has proven him to be, Tucker will be an invaluable addition to the Cubs' team this season.

This is also why it's disappointing the Cubs' spending habits all but confirm Tucker will only spend one season on the northside. A contract extension between the Cubs and Tucker is fun to think about, but there is very little reason to believe one will happen. Instead, the Cubs need to hope that Tucker's work ethic rubs off on their young core. A core that will likely include Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw.