PITTSBURGH – All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker travelled to his hometown of Tampa, Fla., before the Cubs’ series finale against the Pirates at PNC Park with a member of the team’s medical staff to get a different set of eyes on his left calf injury, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday morning.
Tucker will visit with the same physical therapy group that he works with during the offseason and saw last season while battling a right leg injury as a member of the Astros.
“We’re aligned with Kyle, and this is the best way for him to make some improvements,” Counsell said. “Unfortunately, we’ve plateaued and we weren't making progress, and that's frustrating for Kyle.”
Tucker was injured on Sept. 2 in a game against Atlanta, and he was placed on the IL on Sept. 9. He has since been able to start throwing and hitting without issue, but he was unable to run in recent days without pain.
Counsell is hopeful that Tucker will be able to join the team for the start of its final homestand of the season starting Sept. 23 against the Mets. The skipper said it's important to make sure Tucker returns to the field next week so he can get game reps prior to the postseason, and this measure was taken to ensure that can happen.
“Unfortunately, [he’s] not responding to treatment, so we’re going to try something different,” Counsell said.
Counsell admitted there is a level of concern due to Tucker not responding to treatment. He remains optimistic that he will play this season.
Tucker is slashing .270/.381/.472 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs this season.