The Chicago Cubs built on their National League leading record in a Sunday win over the Cincinnati Reds, but it might have come with a big loss.
Superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker was pulled from the game in the fifth inning after he jammed his finger on a headfirst slide earlier in the game. Though the Cubs won the game, the focus has become centered on Tucker’s injury.
“Anything that happens to Kyle Tucker is magnified, given his status as the No. 1 MLB free agent expected on the board next winter, and the high price the Chicago Cubs paid to acquire the All-Star outfielder,” Patrick Mooney reported for The Athletic. “The alarm bells went off when Vidal Brujan replaced Tucker in the fifth inning of Sunday afternoon’s 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.”
The good news is that the Cubs have until Tuesday evening to determine Tucker’s ability to return to the lineup, when they take on the Washington Nationals. But anything that causes the star outfielder to leave a game is cause for concern, given how important he has been to the Cubs’ success.
Tucker is slashing .284/.394/.524 with 12 homers and 39 RBI so far, en route to what is likely a fourth-straight All-Star game appearance. Though the Cubs traded away some controllable talent to land him in what could be a single season before free agency, the decision has paid dividends in the wins column.
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
But Tucker now faces the prospect of missing some time with the Cubs, a possibility that he sent a message on shortly after leaving the Reds game.
“For me, as long as I’m able to go out there and play, I’m going to go out there and play,” Tucker said. “Do what I can, to the best I can. I don’t like getting taken out of games or missing games.”
Given his commitment to playing every inning that he can, any additional missed time would signal a significant injury.
More MLB: Mets could bench ‘all-world defender’ after adding electric infielder
