Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker is making it look easy.

Tucker is 12-for-34 (.353 average) this season with a whopping 1.303 OPS and four home runs in eight games. Those results are because he is keeping things simple.

“I just feel in a good place right now,” Tucker told Taylor McGregor after the Cubs’ 7-4 win over the Athletics on Tuesday night in Sacramento. “I’m not chasing a whole lot. I’m just trying to stay within myself and try and drive balls to the field all over the place. So just trying to get my pitches and do the most with it.”

It’s a similar comment to what most other hitters say. They all want to simplify their approach at the plate and have that lead to results. Few can do that. Not many hitters are Tucker.  

The Cubs paid a hefty price this winter to acquire one year of Tucker – they sent All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes, 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith and right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski to the Houston Astros for the left-handed hitter. But the Cubs believed they were that close to breaking through in the National League playoff picture that they pulled the trigger on a difference-maker on the offensive side, price be damned.

Through eight games he’s shown he’s been worth the fee. Tucker was 2-for-3 in Wednesday’s win with a double, two walks and a home run – his fourth straight game with a long ball, the first time he’s done that in his career.

Of course, it’s not just Tucker who is crushing the ball. His success is having ripple effects on the rest of the lineup.

In the first inning on Wednesday, Tucker drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Seiya Suzuki followed him with a three-run home run that gave the Cubs a big early lead.

“It’s just a problem on the other side when a guy like that can do so much damage,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game in Sacramento. “He’s on base or he’s doing damage. Obviously, it’s gonna make our offense tough to go through.”

In the fourth inning, the A’s chose to intentionally walk Tucker with first base open to load the bases, rather than allow him to beat them. The decision worked out, because Suzuki and Michael Busch struck out, but it’s a scenario that could repeat itself and be more fruitful for the Cubs.

“I would say for today, I was going up to that at-bat staying aggressive, swinging the bat,” Suzuki told reporters in Sacramento through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “Unfortunately, I ended up with a strikeout, but I think moving forward, I think I’ll continue to keep that same approach going.”

While the bat flips have been a treat for Cubs fans to see, that’s about as much flash as you’ll see out of Tucker. And that’s OK if the results continue.

“He just hits the ball really well,” Tuesday’s starter Justin Steele told reporters in Sacramento. “He’s a really good baseball player.”