While the Houston Astros have been surging since the Mexico series, right fielder Kyle Tucker has been surging all season. Having just been swept by the Chicago Cubs, the Astros were 7-19 going into their two-game series against the Rockies in Mexico City. The Mexico City series served as a new beginning for an Astros team that was having their worst start in ten years. Houston has gone 12-6 in the 18 games since the Mexico Series including a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics. One player who hasn’t needed a reset is the two-time All-Star himself.
For the past three seasons, Tucker has been regarded as one of the better all-around players in the game. He is one of four active players to hit 30 homers and steal 25 bases in a season while striking out fewer than 100 times. The former fifth overall pick led the American League with 112 RBI last season and won his first Silver Slugger. Tucker finished fifth in MVP voting and one home run shy of his first 30/30 season.
Kyle Tucker Surging to Superstar Status
Tucker has started the season on fire. Tucker leads the majors with 13 home runs, eight of which came in his past 15 games. He leads the Astros in runs (31) and RBIs (29) batting out of the second-through-fourth lineup spots. During his power surge, Tucker tops the American League in OPS (1.000) and boasts the second-highest slugging percentage (.592).
This isn’t just a hot streak for the right fielder’s hard-hit rate, barrel percentage, and launch angle are all career-highs. Tucker has paired his harder contact with a career-high fly-ball rate (43.7%). His ground balls and line drives are turning into doubles and home runs.
Tucker is One of the Most Productive Hitters
“I’ll take the homers,” Tucker said. “But I mean, I personally don’t really care as much. If I’m 3-for-3 with three singles and we win the game, I’ll take that over a couple homers.”
Not only is the 27-year-old one of the most productive hitters in baseball, but he is also a Gold Glove outfielder. Tucker has started 42 games in right field this season and has yet to make an error over 366 innings.
Kyle Tucker avoided arbitration in January and has one more year of club control before entering free agency in 2026. General manager Dana Brown has said that the Astros will offer Kyle Tucker an extension, but the two sides are not engaged in “deep discussions.”
Dana Brown said they haven’t had any discussions with Bregman on an extension he but still plans to.
“At some point we will have some discussions with Bregman and make him an offer,” Brown said.
He said Tucker will get an offer, as well, but they’re not in “deep discussions.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 28, 2024
While his extension is not as pressing as Alex Bregman – who will enter free agency in 2025 – King Tuck deserves to be a Houston Astro for life.
Main Photo: © Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
