MLB Prospect Preview: Kyle Tucker
Photo: cbssports.com
We are now just five weeks away from the start of the major league baseball season. Spring Training is in full effect and fans everywhere are anxious to see how their teams will fare this year. If you haven’t been following, for the last two months I have been previewing one top prospect every week who is poised to break into the majors during the 2019 season. Last week I previewed Blue Jays prospect Bo Bichette. This week I will take a closer look at Houston Astros top prospect Kyle Tucker.
Kyle Tucker
OF
Houston Astros
Photo: click2houston.com
Kyle Tucker is a little different than the other prospects we have previewed so far, being that he has had the most big league experience. While breaking into the big leagues last season, Tucker really struggled, hitting just 9 for 64, before being sent back down to Triple-A. It was a strange occurrence because he is highly regarded as a pure hitter and dominated in Triple-A where he hit .332. Most likely his struggles just got into his head, because the talent is clearly there to perform well at the major league level.
Tucker was drafted fifth overall in the 2015 MLB draft by the Astros and worked his way up through the farm system, reaching Triple-A last season. Through four minor league seasons, he has a .288 batting average, 61 rbi, 91 stolen bases, and an .849 OPS. The last two seasons he has produced 20-20 seasons in the minors. When invited to Spring Training last year, Tucker hit an impressive .409, 5 home runs, and a 1.256 OPS. The talent and potential is obvious for MLB Pipeline’s 8th ranked prospect. He has a very smart and intuitive approach at the plate, and drives the ball to all parts of the field. Many scouts predict him hitting for high averages in the majors, along with 25+ home runs per year.
While he entered his minor league career as a center fielder, he is slowly starting to gravitate towards right field. His defensive skills rate out as average (50/80), with below-par instincts and route running. But he makes up for some of that with his above-average speed. His arm also is a nice asset and will be beneficial to him in right field. Tucker is expected to be an average major league outfielder defense-wise, that will make his mark with his bat.
Many Hall of Fame players have slow starts to their career, so Tucker’s one big league sample shouldn’t worry Astros fans. Many of them should remember Alex Bregman’s 1-32 start to his big league career. Baseball is a game of streaks and Kyle Tucker just had a bad one in 2018. He is still just 22 years old, also. Right now, the Astros just want him to come into Spring Training relaxed, and with a clear head. They know he can produce great things in his career. I fully expect him to bounce back this year and have a solid rookie season in Houston. I don’t see him starting the year in Houston, but I expect to see him there sometime in May. But like always, much of that depends on what he does in Spring Training and early in the season in the minors. The Astros have enough talent in the majors where they won’t feel pressed to bring him up until they feel he is ready.
Garett