Kyle Tucker’s first season in Chicago has been a whirlwind from the time he was acquired in December to his latest stint on the injured list.
For much of the year, Cubs fans demanded Chairman Tom Ricketts sign the outfielder to a long-term extension before free agency, and Tucker’s presence helped the offense look dominant for most of the first half.
But Tucker then went into a summer swoon that coincided with the team’s fall from first-place to wild-card contender, and wound up on the IL for the last three weeks in September, adding to the anxiety level at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs began their final homestand of the regular season Tuesday night against the New York Mets, with Green Day throwing out the first pitch as their song, “Basket Case,” played — an appropriate reference to Cubs fans’ current frame of mind.
The big question Tuesday was whether Tucker would be able to recover from his lingering calf strain and get enough at-bats in the final week of the regular season to be ready for the postseason.
Tucker returned from a brief trip to Tampa, where he rehabbed with his own physical therapists, and declared Tuesday he’d be fine without much ramp-up to the postseason.
“I think I’ll be alright,” he said in the Cubs dugout before the game. “Even when you are playing every single day, you never know if you’re going to have a good day or a bad day. You go out there expecting to get a hit every single time you go up to the plate, but it’s not always going to be like that.
“For the most part I think it’s a mental thing. If I can be physically locked in and get comfortable and get at least a few at-bats in there I’ll be fine.”
Cross your fingers, Cubs fans, and keep the Advil near the TV.
Manager Craig Counsell confirmed there is some “time urgency” with Tucker, but didn’t care to speculate on whether the All-Star outfielder could just step in and be ready in the postseason if he wasn’t able to return this week.
“That’s a decision that is down the road that we’d have to make,” Counsell said. “I haven’t really thought about that decision yet. I’m still hopeful we can get him in there (this week).”
There’s no question the Cubs need Tucker’s bat in the lineup in October, even if he’s had an up-and-down season. He played in 15 playoff series over six seasons with the Houston Astros, and the Cubs have few players with postseason experience.
But he’s been on the IL since Sept. 6, and hasn’t played since leaving a game on Sept. 2, the night he hit his first home run since July 19 in a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. Earlier this season, he suffered a hairline fracture of a finger on his right hand while sliding into second base on June 1, but it was not diagnosed immediately and he managed to play through it, suffering a power outage in July and August.
Was it the injury, or adjusting to the injury? No one could know for sure. But the slump was so pronounced that it convinced fans Tucker was all but gone after the season and the Cubs would turn to prospect Owen Caissie in 2026.
This latest calf injury wasn’t supposed to be as serious as it has turned out to be. But the fact that he still couldn’t run two weeks into it made the Cubs try something different — letting Tucker leave the team to go rehab with a physical therapy crew he felt comfortable with.
“Some of the stuff we were doing here was good,” Tucker said of the Cubs’ treatment. But it wasn’t enough for his own peace of mind. His rehab people had helped him recover from a shin injury last year with Houston.
“I’ve been with those guys the last decade or so, working out in the offseason,” he said. “They’ve known me for an extended time … and can see some subtle things or differences.”
Tucker has been able to run the last two days for the first time, and on Tuesday ran the bases a little. But he still was unable to return, and wasn’t sure when he’d be good to go.
Counsell said Tucker was running well, but added: “I don’t think you’re ever going to see full speed, like beating out a ground ball.” He confirmed that Tucker would start out as the designated hitter when he returns instead of playing in right field, which likely means Seiya Suzuki would mostly start in right.
By leaving the team in Pittsburgh, Tucker missed the wild-card clincher, the postgame celebration and the group photo afterward. But he had no qualms about missing out.
“It’s exciting, but at the same time, I also do my best as a player to try to be back on the field,” he said. “Hopefully we have a lot more of these kinds of celebrations.”
Counsell said closer Daniel Palencia would likely be activated by Wednesday, which could help the bullpen situation if he’s back to his old self. Palencia struggled before going down with a shoulder strain on Sept. 8, and Counsell has adjusted by using Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller in closing situations.
But Tucker’s health will be the story to watch in the final week and into the postseason. He basically replaced Cody Bellinger, who was dealt to the New York Yankees in a salary dump and has had another stellar season.
Tucker can still finish his season on an up note with a strong postseason, which could convince Ricketts to bring out the ceremonial wheelbarrow of cash and give him a long-term megadeal.
But in reality, the better Tucker does in the postseason, the more likely it is he’ll get the deal he seeks from a team that doesn’t worry about the payroll as long as the team wins.
So what will it be? Who knows?
As Green Day once sang, wake me up when September ends.
