Intriguing Revelation Emerges About Kyle Tucker

After getting off to an MVP-like start to the 2024 season, Kyle Tucker has missed the last three months with what the Houston Astros said was a "shin contusion" or a “deep bruise of the bone.” When the injury first occurred, he was supposed to return after a couple of days, and mystery has surrounded Tucker ever since.

But now it's been revealed by sources to The Athletic that Tucker actually suffered a fractured shin back in early June, when he fouled a ball off his leg.

He had a .979 OPS at the time with a 175 OPS+, along with 19 homers and 40 RBIs in just 60 games. That's a 51-HR pace.

But Tucker has finally admitted, after the team has continued to call the injury a "deep bruise" for three months, that it was, indeed, a fracture.

In Cincinnati, Kyle Tucker confirmed that he sustained a shin fracture.

"After a little bit of time and continued imaging and stuff, after the swelling and everything kind of calmed down, it was revealed there was a little fracture in the shin," Tucker said via @ctrent
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 3, 2024

"After a little bit of time and continued imaging and stuff, after the swelling and everything kind of calmed down, it was revealed there was a little fracture in the shin," said Tucker from Cincinnati on Monday, where he travelled with the team.

“After several rounds of medical imaging, we suspect there was some type of small fracture,” Astros GM Dana Brown said in a statement to The Athletic on Monday morning. “As with all injuries of this type, once the fracture heals it takes time for the muscles around the leg to regain strength. Tuck has worked extremely hard to get back on the field and thankfully is ready now to help us in September and in the postseason.”

Brown said that Tucker may return later this week, without a rehab assignment. He's been taking live batting practice off minor-league pitchers and participating in outfield defensive drills.

Video of Kyle Tucker running today from the broadcast. Espada said he was running at 85% pic.twitter.com/ZQa26BFrMe
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) September 2, 2024