Kyle Tucker launched his eighth home run of the season during Thursday’s 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, collecting his 28th RBI of the year.

It’s a tally that ties him for fourth-most in MLB — along with teammate Seiya Suzuki — and through 32 games, it ties his quickest pace to reach 28 runs driven in since his 2020 campaign.

[MORE: Seiya Suzuki explains how Kyle Tucker impacts red-hot Cubs offense]

Tucker had been struggling with a small slump before his 395-foot blast off of Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Thursday, collecting just three hits in 26 at-bats (.115) over his last seven games.

Even with the skid, Tucker is a top-10 hitter in baseball.

He’s slashing .278/.387/.563 with a .950 OPS, and the lefty slugger is a hitting coach’s dream — just ask Dustin Kelly, who spoke to Marquee Sports Network’s Elise Menaker about what makes Tucker so effective on offense.

“I think the lack of chase is what stands out the most with (Tucker),” Kelly said. “He’s just locked in on where he wants the ball, and he’s willing to take a walk and let someone else do it behind him.”

This season, Tucker has the highest walk rate (15.3%) on the Cubs as well as the second-lowest strikeout rate (12%) behind Nico Hoerner.

Tucker’s ultra-patient approach at the plate is something that Kelly believes is contagious up and down the batting order.

“We’ve walked quite a bit the last two years in itself, so adding another guy that does damage and walks definitely adds to that,” Kelly said.

As a team, the Cubs’ 10% walk rate and 19.8% strikeout rate are both good enough for top five in the NL. Each of those metrics are improved from last season’s offense without Tucker, in which the Cubs took walks at an 8.9% rate and struck out 22.3% of the time.

In high-leverage situations, Tucker doesn’t rush or swing for the fences. He’s taken eight walks with runners in scoring position this year, which ties him for fifth-most in MLB.

As as team, the Cubs’ four bases-loaded walks this season are tied for the most in all of MLB – and Tucker has drawn half of them.

The Cubs’ unhurried attitude is testament to the trust they have in each other as hitters, says Kelly.

“They’re pretty set on how they’re going to attack a pitcher,” Kelly said. “If they don’t get (their pitch), they’re letting the next guy take a shot at it.”