Unlike a season ago, the Chicago Cubs have brought consistent pop to the table as a team to begin a 2025 campaign that has fans hoping for a playoff berth. Many signs pointed toward the bullpen being the ultimate downfall for the 2024 Cubs. While this certainly was a big part of their shortcomings, the offense fell flat plenty of times as well. Chicago lost way too many 1-0 ballgames a season ago, and people were worried during the offseason when nothing else major was added alongside Kyle Tucker.
Even though Tucker was seen as a major upgrade from Cody Bellinger at the time of the trade, fans were concerned that the front office didn’t do enough to upgrade the roster in general. While there are still holes on this team, a handful of guys have outplayed their projections so far this season, which has given the Cubs an early NL Central division lead.
Three Chicago bats have something together that no other team has in the league so far this season, and it really shows off the power that the Cubs have displayed thus far in 2025.
Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong all have 10 home runs this season, making the Cubs the first team in baseball with three players having 10 or more homers in the 2025 season. There was no doubt that Tucker was going to make an immediate impact on the Cubs order. Despite being hurt and missing a good portion of the 2024 season with Houston, Tucker was still viewed as one of the best bats in baseball when the Cubs acquired him in December.
Crow-Armstrong has been the biggest surprise story out of Chicago this season, and arguably in the entire league. The speedy center fielder has driven in 28 runs to go with his 10 long balls so far this year, when most outlets had him hitting around 12-14 homers over the course of 162 games. The way things sit right now, PCA could double that projected total from the winter, as long as he stays healthy.
Suzuki has come into his own in his fourth season at the big league level. He now mainly serves as the Cubs’ designated hitter, and that could be a major reason for his early-season success. Suzuki also slots in right behind Tucker in the order, and this has clearly benefited him. The 30-year-old has seen much more favorable pitches in the three-hole this year, as opposing pitching staffs have been so stressed on how to handle Tucker ahead of him.
Suzuki has two 20-homer seasons so far in the big leagues, as he clubbed out 20 long balls in 2023 and 21 of them coming a season ago. He is well on pace to have his most home runs in a single season in his big league career in 2025, as this Chicago offense doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
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