'I'm feeling OK': Why Tucker, Cubs aren't worried about spring results

MESA, Ariz. -- Two springs ago, Dansby Swanson arrived as the Cubs’ marquee offseason addition on a lengthy contract, making him the face of a franchise trying to climb back into contention. The star shortstop experienced a rough Cactus League in the batter’s box for a tough first impression.

“And then he basically beat the Brewers on Opening Day by himself,” Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly said with a laugh.

Leaning back in his chair at his locker on Friday morning, Swanson acknowledged -- as he did two years ago -- that he felt pressure to perform right away after signing his seven-year, $177 million pact with the Cubs. After a month spent behind the scenes seeing how Kyle Tucker operates, Swanson does not believe the outfielder feels that same stress.

Acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Astros in December to serve as an impact bat for Chicago’s offense, Tucker has gone 0-for-17 through his first seven games with the North Siders. Swanson went 1-for-22 in his first 10 games in the 2023 preseason and ended batting .122 (5-for-41) that spring.

“We’re two different people,” Swanson said. “Mine was partially -- there was some contract-related stuff, naturally. That’s human. But I think spring is all about just really finding your process. And he’s got his and he trusts in his, and it’s so refreshing being around that. If he’s putting pressure on himself, I don’t feel it or see it.”

Results in Spring Training can be deceiving, too.

Swanson ended that 2023 spring by launching a homer in each of his last two games. He then churned out three hits in a 4-0 win over Milwaukee on Opening Day and had a trio of three-hit games in his first four regular-season games. The shortstop was hitting .306 as late as May 2 in that first tour with Chicago.

Especially when it comes to an established star like Tucker, there is more trust in the process and routine than any concerns over whether a hit happened to fall in during the spring. This is a three-time All-Star with a Silver Slugger in his trophy case and a fifth-place finish in the 2023 American League MVP race.

“Look, it’s Spring Training,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “When you’re that accomplished, you get a pass. That’s the bottom line. And I think [you would worry] if you hadn’t [seen] examples before. But, you have. I have. It’s a fluky thing. But really good hitters go 0-for-17 during the season and have great seasons.”

Swanson called Tucker’s work behind the scenes “refreshing” because he has witnessed how the outfielder sticks to a simple routine, making the most of the swings he takes. For Tucker, the current focus within that approach is on getting his timing mechanism in sync with his bat path.

“Right now, I’m feeling OK,” Tucker said. “I feel relatively close to where I would like to be. Obviously, I’m not quite there. But, I don’t mind the at-bats I’ve had or anything. Some pitches I’ve just missed. I feel like it’s close.”

Tucker noted that a part of his in-game process during Spring Training is centered around just getting reacclimated to the edges of the zone, following an offseason away from live pitching. From there, it is all about getting his timing down.

Both Tucker and Kelly summed up the current situation as the outfielder being just underneath pitches (and not “on plane”) with his barrel.

“We’ll talk about being a tick behind or a tick in front,” Kelly explained. “When we watch the video, we’re kind of looking at those frames. That’s how I’d describe it: you’re one frame behind or one frame too far out in front. He’s just been like a tick behind. And when we’re a tick behind, that barrel just doesn’t ever get a chance to really release.”

Kelly was also confident -- based on his in-depth conversations with Tucker about hitting over the past month -- that the outfielder will begin to thrive once game-planning really enters the equation again.

In Spring Training, an opposing pitcher might be working on a specific pitch or task. There are more Minor League pitchers in games or a line of relievers earlier than during the regular season. In that environment, hitters are not spending as much time working off a plan of attack, compared to in-season.

“When the lights turn on, these guys are just fine,” Kelly said. “These guys are old enough now to where, if they feel good and they don’t get the results, they're not going to jump ship.”

That said, a few positive results would be nice, too.

“Hopefully I end up with one knock, at least,” Tucker said with a smile. “That’d feel good.”