Kyle Tucker faced a chorus of boos upon his return to Wrigley Field on Monday night and later defended his effort during his lone season with the Chicago Cubs.
The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder said he gave everything he had in 2025 despite injuries.
“I tried my hardest last year. I tried playing through a hand fracture and calf thing, just trying to get back to the playoffs for them and trying to do what I could to help out the team last year with them,” Tucker said after the game, according to reports citing The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
The comments quickly circulated on social media, including a post from the account @CubsZone that shared the quote.
Tucker was announced to loud jeers during pregame introductions and again when he stepped in for his first at-bat against his former club.
Cubs fans made their feelings clear about the player who left Chicago for a four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers in free agency. Tucker went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk in the Dodgers’ 10-5 loss.
The Cubs snapped a brief skid with the victory, powered by two-run homers from Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly and Kevin Alcántara. Michael Busch drove in three runs against his old team as Chicago improved to 64-49.
Los Angeles dropped its fourth straight game and fell to 69-44.
Tucker spent the 2025 season with the Cubs after arriving via trade from the Houston Astros. He produced solid overall numbers but cooled significantly after a strong first half.
Injuries limited him at times, including the hand fracture and calf issue he referenced Monday. He still helped the Cubs reach the postseason that year.
Many Chicago fans expressed frustration over both his late-season struggles and his decision to sign with a National League rival. Some pointed to moments last season when Tucker drew criticism for not always running hard out of the box.
Tucker acknowledged the uneven finish to his Cubs tenure.
“Hit really well in 1st half, and 2nd half didn’t go as great, and kind of didn’t end up great at the end of the year. But had a good run,” he added. “They’re a good team, and it should be good for them for the rest of the year.”
The reception stood in contrast to warmer returns some players receive from former home crowds.
Tucker has dealt with similar mixed reactions earlier this season, including boos during a trip back to Houston.
With the Dodgers, he entered the night batting around .240 with nine home runs. The series continues Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
