The Chicago Cubs missed the postseason for the fourth straight year after finishing with a record of 83-79 and coming in second place in the National League Central.
After winning the World Series in 2016, the Cubs made the National League Championship Series in 2017, but then they have failed to advance past the wild-card round since.
The Cubs have acquired a few notable players this offseason to help improve their roster for the 2025 season.
One of those players is superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker who was acquired via trade from the Houston Astros.
With Tucker joining the outfield corps, MLB Analyst Tom Verducci made a bold prediction about how good the Cubs’ outfield will be in 2025.
“That outfield is one of the best in Major League Baseball,” Verducci said via MLB Network on ‘X.’
“That outfield is one of the best in Major League Baseball.”
Tom Verducci breaks down where the @Cubs trio of Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker ranks as a defensive unit. pic.twitter.com/5a1MCtr3q4
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 20, 2025
Tucker is a 28-year-old outfielder who came into the league in 2018 with the Astros and has played all seven seasons of his MLB career with the team before coming to the Cubs.
In 2024, Tucker only played in 78 games due to injuries, but he batted .289 with 23 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .993 OPS.
While Tucker gives the Cubs a boost offensively, Verducci mentions his defensive ability and how good the Cubs’ outfield as a whole will be defensively in 2025.
Both Tucker in right field and Ian Happ in left field have won Gold Glove Awards in their careers, and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will likely be a Gold Glove winner soon.
The Cubs have a below-average strikeout rate as a pitching staff, so having a solid defensive outfield will greatly benefit the team next season.
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