The Blue Jays shouldn't hesitate to pay Kyle Tucker like a superstar

"Fast forward to December, and some seemed to have cooled on Tucker after he underwhelmed in his debut season with the Cubs. He finished the year with 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 136 games played. His .841 OPS, while still 43% better than league average, was his worst since 2022. His .464 slugging percentage was his lowest career line."

"Tucker is the epitome of what the organization values in its hitters. He's patient, doesn't strike out much, and does damage on pitches when he makes contact. He walked 87 times last year with just 88 strikeouts and a miniscule 17.6% chase rate. His expected batting (.274) and expected slugging (.475) were both better than his actual stats, suggesting he deserved better results based on his process."

"Tucker played through a fracture in his hand from June onward. He had 12 home runs and a 150 wRC+ at the end of May, then hit 10 the rest of the way with a .421 slugging percentage. The injury unquestionably affected his swing; he finished the season with the lowest average exit velocity and hard-hit rate of his career."

Kyle Tucker produced 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 136 games while posting a .841 OPS, his lowest since 2022, and a .464 slugging percentage that was his career low. He graded out at -2 outs above average in the outfield, with sprint speed in the 26th percentile. Tucker showed elite plate discipline, walking 87 times against 88 strikeouts and a 17.6% chase rate, with expected batting average .274 and expected slugging .475 exceeding his actual results. He played through a fractured hand from June onward, which reduced exit velocity and hard-hit rate and depressed power late in the season. Teams should value his process-driven profile despite the down year.

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