The Astros have called up top prospect Kyle Tucker, The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan reports (Twitter link). Jake Marisnick will be sent down to Triple-A in the corresponding move, as per MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart (via Twitter).
Tucker, 21, has been considered one of the game’s better prospects since he was selected fifth overall in the 2015 draft. Preseason prospect rankings (15th on Baseball America’s list, MLB.com 17th, Baseball Prospectus 20th, ESPN’s Keith Law 21st) tabbed him as being on the verge of Major League readiness, though he hadn’t played in Triple-A prior to this season. Tucker didn’t miss a beat playing at the top minor league level, batting .306/.371/.520 with 14 home runs over 371 plate appearances for the Fresno Grizzlies, strong statistics even in a hitter-friendly league like the PCL.
This marks Tucker’s second straight year of solid power numbers, as he made slight adjustments to his approach in order to generate more pop, albeit while striking out more often (he has 70 whiffs this season). Still, he makes overall very strong contact, and his hand-eye coordination has been widely cited as excellent, which helps him deliver such good results at the plate despite a somewhat unusual swing.
Beyond the bat, Tucker has also stolen 85 bases in 113 chances over his minor league career, including 14 swipes this year. Tucker has seen significant time at all three outfield positions, though evaluators believe he is best suited for a corner spot — MLB.com’s scouting report touts Tucker’s “solid arm strength” as a good fit for eventually becoming a right fielder.
This defensive versatility gives the Astros another valuable piece to work with in their pursuit of another World Series title. George Springer is the only true everyday outfielder in the Houston lineup, playing either center field or right field, with Josh Reddick, Marwin Gonzalez, Tony Kemp and (before today) Marisnick all getting action in the other two positions based on matchups. Gonzalez has recently been deploying his superutility skills at shortstop with Carlos Correa on the DL, and thus the Astros may have felt the time was right to add a stronger bat like Tucker into their outfield mix. Tucker, Reddick, and Kemp are all left-handed hitters, though Kemp has hit well from both sides of the plate this year, so Houston doesn’t necessarily have an unbalanced outfield picture. The ’Stros also have two more young outfield options in J.D. Davis and Derek Fisher at Triple-A for further depth.
It’s worth noting that Tucker has been a frequent subject of trade rumors over the last couple of years, with teams like the White Sox, Pirates, and Marlins all showing interest in the outfield prospect. In regards to the Miami talks, it was reported that Houston was at least open to moving Tucker if it meant getting J.T. Realmuto back in return, though nothing ever came of those negotiations. There hasn’t been any trade buzz on Tucker in recent months, however, not that Tucker was ever really considered an expendable piece for anything less than a top-tier asset like Realmuto. It certainly appears as through the Astros consider Tucker to be yet another homegrown building block that can help the big league roster both now and in the future.
Marisnick’s 2017 season was something of an outlier, as he produced above-average numbers at the plate (117 wRC+ in 259 PA) while underachieving defensively. The rest of his career has been the exact opposite, as Marisnick has generally been an outstanding defender while not generating much offense at the plate. This season, for instance, Marisnick has a .190/.235/.359 slash line over 163 PA, while posting a +12.1 UZR/150 and +8 Defensive Runs Saved in 410 2/3 innings as a center fielder.
I’VE SEEN THE LIGHT! PRAISE BE TO GOD ON HIGH! HALLOWED BE THY NAME!
love seeing top prospects come up never know who’s gonna be the next superstar
Ted ready to show everyone that spring training was no fluke!
Is he gonna play every day?
I would think so up until the ASB. Springer is gonna be in there every day. Reddick will sit against most lefties, with Kemp filling in. It will be interesting to see how this affect’s Marwin when Correa inevitably comes up. If Tucker falls flat this next week, there’s a chance he gets sent back down when Correa comes back. Then again, MarGo hasnt been exciting this year and doesnt deserve the number of AB’s he has been getting.
I’m guessing that he’s going to get some regular at bats, if they’re sending down their best defensive outfielder.
Assuming he starts today or tomorrow, I’m calling a home run in his major league debut.
That’s a decent bet with James Shields and Lucas Giolito starting for the White Sox on Saturday and Sunday.
Better chance that he walks 3 times
Can’t he do both?
Especially on Sunday! lol
Tucker in LF, Reddick in RF and Springer in CF with Kemp and Marwin seeing time in the OF as needed…. Marisnick needs some regular ABs and work on some things. I’m sure there have been several great defensive CFs that couldn’t hit at all. He has value, just not at the plate.
I hope I’m not overstating this, but Kyle Tucker is like the Babe Ruth of Japan of the PCL. Go ‘Stros!!
A lot of guys look like Babe Ruth in the PCL. Most aren’t any good when they reach the bigs. You have to focus more on the skill set of the prospect than the numbers, especially when they play in the PCL or Cal League.
If the Astros have a “Babe Ruth” in the PCL that would more likely be A.J. Reed who bats and throws left-handed. Reed has big time power and was also an ace pitcher in college at Kentucky. Just too many swings and misses in his game although he may still pan out with a change of scenery, like maybe the White Sox who could use a left-handed power bat to spell Jose Abreu at 1B, platoon at DH, and split late inning mop up duties in blow out losses with Matt Davidson (lol). It’s not like White Sox fans wouldn’t have fun with all the Reed and Adam Dunn comps either. lmao
Perhaps the Astros could help solve their need for a lefty in the bullpen by swapping Reed for 28-year White Sox veteran southpaw Luis Avilan who is tough on left-handed hitters and also has another year of arbitration eligible control in 2019. Deal?
Chances are Kyle Tucker will be the next home grown talent to stick with the Astros but the possibility remains that he might have been called up now in order to be showcased in a potential blockbuster trade for catcher J.T. Realmuto or southpaw closer Brad Hand.
I don’t want Tucker traded for anyone less than deGrom.
I don’t think it’s that far fetched to say Realmuto’s value is very similar to deGrom’s at this point. Both are excellent players having fantastic years.
Would be shocked if the Padres got Tucker for Hand. That’s a huge price to pay for a situational player. Realmuto and DeGrom would be much better bets if the Astros wanted to deal Tucker.
I don’t want Tucker traded for anyone. He is another building block along the line of Springer, Correa, and Bregman. Astros have other minor league assets they fan move for C or BP help.
Tucker won’t be traded. Astros, as great as their lineup is, needs an everyday LF. Tucker is that player… I don’t see Hand being in the same conversation as DeGrom and Realmuto
I believe GM Jeff Luhnow is smart enough to agree but Brad Hand is a comp to Andrew Miller from the 2016 trade deadline with much more closing experience. The Indians wound up trading two of their best prospects in SP Justus Sheffield and OF Clint Frazier to the Yankees for Miller along with a couple other minor leaguers.
I believe Lunhow is smarter than a lot of people, including the Indians FO.. at this point it’s becoming tiring, I don’t even want Hand anymore. It’s exhausting listening to Padre fans talk Hand up. DeGrom is more valuable than Hand and so is Realmuto. I shouldn’t have to explain why.
jb19: Time will tell.
Btw-The Mariners are 26-11 in 1-run decisions and 8-0 in extra inning contest as we post. The Yankees are 14-8 in 1-run games and the Red Sox 13-6. Each have split their extra inning contests. The Astros are 12-16 in 1-run decisions and 3-4 in extra inning games. Postseason games are typically close affairs and decided by pitching, including the bullpens. Just saying…
I am very familiar with the statistics. Remember when the Astros won the World Series last year with only Liriano as a LHRP in the bullpen? In fact, Yankees and the Indians both have elite left handed RPs and didn’t make it to the WS… a more likely trade package for Hand would be Cionel Perez, JD Davis and Tony Kemp. Plus a AAA SP or an A ball lottery ticket. That would be a better haul for the Padres than the Pirates got for Cole.
Why would they trade their second biggest trade chip for something they don’t need? Who is deGrom going to replace? Keuchel is the only option unless you trade Morton (why would they?). They need LF and C, and possibly a RP. Also, look at Colin McHugh’s stats, he might be this years Peacock in the playoffs.
True enough, but sometimes a team will make a trade just to keep another player away from their competition. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Astros include Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster for an ace like Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard so they don’t get dealt to the Mariners or Yankees. They can then worry about addressing their need at catcher or for a lefty reliever with the surplus of starting pitching on their active roster or in the minors.
Teams NEVER make a trade to keep a player away from anyone else
Tell that to the Yankees and Red Sox. It’s not like a true ace pitcher wouldn’t also be welcome on any team, even one with the rotation depth of the Astros.
ZERO chance he is traded for a RP. They wouldnt give him up for Archer or Cole. Why would they trade him for Hand? They wont give up Whitley or Tucker for Realmuto either. Honestly, with the way Stassi/Federowicz have looked, they dont need Realmuto. He’s be a luxury. You don’t trade your best prospect for that.
Great move to strengthen the outfield down the stretch.
Well, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is now reporting that the Astros have shown interest in trading for White Sox 1B Jose Abreu per this very site:link to mlbtraderumors.com.
You can also expect White Sox GM Rick Hahn to be seeking one of the Astros top-two prospects in OF Kyle Tucker or RHP Forrest Whitley. So perhaps this thread will now come full circle and a reason for Tucker’s promotion was to showcase him at the big league level for the White Sox. lol
So my earlier trade proposal of southpaw reliever Luis Avilan for 1B A.J. Reed can take on even more significance and become a bigger blockbuster with Abreu going to the Astros and Tucker heading to the South Side. Reed then becomes the heir apparent at 1B for the White Sox.
A couple seasons ago, Astros called about Jose Quintana and the GM of the White Sox, Rick Hahn, asked for Correa in return… Astros obviously rejected that nonsense and talks went no where when they then wanted Bregman (plus others) for Sale. Again, no, it was a bad deal and those pieces weren’t needed to win a WS. Pirates wanted Tucker, Rays have asked about Whitley and the list goes on. Tucker isn’t going anywhere… Secondarily, Astros don’t need Abreu. That’s a joke of a rumor…my guess is that AJ Reed is available.
I don’t believe that Rick Hahn asked for Carlos Correa in return for Jose Quintana. He is a very bright man and that would be an insult to everybody’s intelligence including Astros GM Jeff Luhnow whom he respects as a peer. As I recall, the reported rumors involving “Q” involved none other than Kyle Tucker who was a younger and less proven prospect at this time last summer and the preceding offseason when Quintana was first being shopped.
It was also no insult for Hahn to ask that Astros top prospect Alex Bregman be a primary chip in the Chris Sale negotiations at the 2016 winter meetings, especially since Houston already had Correa as their starting MLB shortstop. So instead, Hahn turned to Boston and extracted MLB’s #1 overall prospect in 2B Yoan Moncada and the Red Sox top pitching prospect in Michael Kopech, along with two other prospects who still hold value and some promise in the White Sox deep farm system.