Kyle Tucker made his first impression as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

The 28-year-old right fielder crushed his first home run as a Cub, a no-doubt, two-run shot to right field in the fifth inning off Brandon Pfaadt in their 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“He threw me a good amount of offspeed pitches,” Tucker told reporters after the game. “He still throws mid 90s so I gotta respect it. I was just trying to get a pitch over the plate and stay within that and not really chase some of his good pitches.

“I mean he threw a few. I was just able to get a changeup that stayed up in the zone a little bit.”

It was the third hit of the day for Tucker, who doubled in the first inning and singled against the shift in the third inning.

“I felt good – I mean even the two previous games I felt pretty good, I was just maybe missing some pitches I thought I probably should have put in play,” Tucker said. “I haven’t chased a whole which I’m pretty happy about. As long as I’m making some good at-bats and trying to barrel up some balls and just basically do what I can, let the rest just happen, I’m happy with them.”

Tucker was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Houston Astros in December with much fanfare. The team was in search of a middle-of-the-order, superstar type bat for their offense. Saturday in Phoenix, he showcased why the Cubs were willing to part with three key players – third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski and 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith – to acquire him.

Tucker struggled in Cactus League play – he was 3-for-30 (.100) with a home run and two RBI, but both he and the Cubs weren’t too concerned with his performance in exhibition play.

“Really at the end of the day, spring training, as long as you come out healthy, feeling good, ready for the season, it’s fine no matter how well or bad you do in spring training,” Tucker said. “At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter a whole lot, to a certain extent. I felt good throughout spring. I had some good swings on balls that just didn’t get down or whatever, so I was happy with it. I came out healthy and everything and ready for the season.”

He showed that on Saturday. Tucker can change an offense with one swing, like he did in the fifth inning.

Last season, he clubbed 23 home runs, slashed .289/.408/.585 (.993 OPS) in just 78 games with Houston. He suffered a fractured shin when he fouled a ball off himself that kept him out of action.