Mike Tuckman (Chicago Cubs) is writing a new KBO export myth.
Starting in right field against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., the Cubs went 2-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, one walk and one strikeout in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series on 9 September (KST). His season batting average is now .284.먹튀검증
Tuckman got on base in his first at-bat. On a 1-1 count, he drew three consecutive balls to take first base. He advanced to second on a Nico Horner grounder to first and to third on an Ian Happ grounder to shortstop, but was unable to score.
In his second at-bat, he struck out. With his team trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning, he took a six-pitch changeup on a full count against starter Carlos Carrasco for a single to right field. Horner followed with a strikeout to end the inning.
With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Horner struck out in his third at-bat.
The big moment came in the eighth inning. With one out, Tuckman worked a full count against reliever Drew Smith and took a 95.4-mph four-seam fastball over the left-centre fence on the sixth pitch. It travelled at 99.5 mph for a 392-foot (120 metres) over-the-hill solo shot. It was his first home run in seven games since hitting one against Cincinnati on 2 July.
Tuckman’s homer gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead and they held on for the win.
Tuckman spent last season with the Hanwha Eagles. In all 144 games, he hit .289 with 12 home runs, 43 doubles, 88 RBI, 19 stolen bases and a .795 OPS. However, Hanwha did not re-sign him, and Tuckman signed a minor contract with the Cubs.
His opportunity came quickly. Called up to the major leagues due to Cody Bellinger’s injury, Tuckman has shown his ability to hit for power as a leadoff hitter. He’s also been hitting the long ball. He’s already hit seven home runs this season. His OPS is up to 0.817.
In 2019, he had a career-high season in a New York Yankees uniform with 13 home runs, a .504 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .865, and he’s on track to surpass that.
At this rate, the KBO’s reverse-export myth is a foregone conclusion.