CHICAGO — Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker has started 2025 on an absolute tear.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and his staff paid a hefty price to acquire the lefty slugger from the Houston Astros last winter, knowing he was only guaranteed to be in Chicago this season since he’s scheduled to hit free agency this November.

So, since Tucker is off to such a heater, Hoyer inevitably was asked before Friday’s home opener where things stand on a contract extension — a relevant question given how many other MLB players have received one this week and a query he’ll certainly often receive this season.

[MORE: How Kyle Tucker is finding so much success with Cubs early in 2025]

“Should we count my no comments on this question? See how many we get to in six months?” Hoyer quipped.

OK, so that answer was expected — Hoyer has routinely stressed that the Cubs will keep extension talks in-house, and he reiterated it Friday.

“I think any conversations we have with him, we’ll keep internal,” Hoyer said. “So, there’s no point in asking all the time, I guess. I know you will. But I just think, like I said, it’s a process.”

Hoyer and the Cubs, however, definitely realize and appreciate just how special Tucker is. Tucker entered Friday slashing .324/.444/.784 (1.228 OPS) with four home runs, 11 RBI, 10 runs and a 233 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), 133 percentage points above league average. It’s a small sample size, but it highlights what an elite bat he possesses.

“I think clearly he’s the kind of player you want to kind of build a lineup around, build a team around,” Hoyer said.

If an extension isn’t done in the near future, Hoyer believes Tucker playing in the Wrigley Field environment — especially in the warm summer months — will be another sales pitch that 28 other MLB teams cannot make.

“Listen, I’m excited. I think he’ll learn what Wrigley is all about over the next few months, which I think is really important,” Hoyer said. “There’ll be nicer days than this that he’ll enjoy. I’m excited to have him. And obviously, like I said, anyone wants a player like that long term.”