Kyle Tucker outclassing the 2024 Cubs in limited reps proves his immense impact

So many Chicago Cubs fans who spent the last two years complaining about Jed Hoyer hoarding prospects sure changed their tune as soon as he included top-100 infield prospect Cam Smith in the trade that netted three-time All-Star Kyle Tucker.

If you're one of those individuals - this piece goes out to you.

Last season, Tucker played in just 78 games due to a right shin fracture, but put up offensive numbers no Cubs player has managed to sustain throughout a full season since 2018, the year Javier Baez went on a second-half heater and finished runner-up to Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich in National League MVP voting.

Kyle Tucker is set to be the best Cubs player in more than half a decade

Playing less than half a season, Tucker would have led the Cubs in wRC+, OPS, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. He's eclipsed 30 home runs on two separate occasions and narrowly missed a third in 2023, when he hit 29 long balls. Chicago hasn't had a player hit 30 home runs in a season since, again, 2019, when Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant both managed the feat.

Since the start of 2021, Tucker has averaged 5.3 bWAR (despite, again, missing half the 2024 season due to injury) - in that time, not a single Cubs player has even hit 5.0 bWAR in one of those campaigns. He's averaged 28 home runs and 90 runs batted in, blowing past the 100-RBI mark twice. Again, no Cub has managed that since 2018. Chicago just hasn't had a player of this caliber in a very, very long time - and while he alone can't be the fix-all, there's no question he's a major upgrade in the lineup.

Since the team's 2021 trade deadline sell-off, there's been a painfully obvious lack of star power on the roster. Tucker is the team's first truly elite player since then - and, while he came at a high cost and may very well be a one-year rental, it's a move this Cubs team had to make. They haven't won a postseason game since 2017, an unacceptable drought for a team with the resources they possess.

Offensively speaking, there's nothing Tucker doesn't do exceptionally well - and with a strong walk year at Wrigley in 2025, he'll likely go into free agency next winter commanding $300+ million. Regardless of how that plays out and whether or not the Cubs defy the odds and try to keep him long-term, this is a move that large-market clubs make - and, despite their best efforts to act to the contrary, the Chicago Cubs are a large-market franchise.