Brewers manager Pat Murphy stirs the pot with comments on Kyle Tucker’s health

“I think Tucker’s hurt. I don’t have any information, but Tucker’s not the same,” Murphy remarked. His remarks added momentum to the speculation about Tucker’s recent struggles both offensively and defensively.

Murphy, who spent time as Counsell’s bench coach in Milwaukee and also coached him at Notre Dame, elaborated further, hinting that Tucker could be dealing with an undisclosed injury while continuing to play.

Pat Murphy’s comments on Kyle Tucker’s health

“(Tucker’s) hurt, and he’s playing through it. He’s such a class kid that he probably doesn’t mention it to anyone,” said the Brewers manager. “That kid, I don’t know him. But everything I hear, and watching him play the game, he’s first class.”

Tucker injured his right hand on June 1 while sliding into second base against the Cincinnati Reds. The team first called it a jammed finger after X-rays came back negative, but later scans revealed a minor fracture near the spot where his pinkie and ring finger meet. By mid-June, follow-up tests showed progress in the healing process, yet the injury still bothered Tucker and likely forced him to favor the hand, disrupting his mechanics.

Even after the diagnosis, Tucker, 28, pushed to stay on the field for the first-place Cubs instead of taking an IL stint, putting up a .982 OPS that month. Since the start of July, however, his production has fallen sharply.

So far, the Cubs have not confirmed anything about Tucker’s health. Counsell’s comments clash with Murphy’s, leaving both fans and analysts split. With Chicago locked in a tight playoff race, Tucker’s status could heavily influence how the rest of the season plays out.

With speculation mounting, Tucker’s health and availability will stay under the spotlight. The Cubs’ postseason chances may ultimately depend on whether he’s fully healthy or trying to push through a hidden injury.