Though Kyle Tucker was added to the Astros dugout prior to Monday’s matchup with Milwaukee, manager A.J. Hinch is making it clear that nothing will be handed to the well-regarded youngster. “We’ll make our assessment on where he can help us,” Hinch said to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle (link). “But he’s going to be a complement player right now until he earns more at-bats.”
Considering the team’s 2019 success and the emergence of rookie Yordan Alvarez, it’s unsurprising to hear that the ’Stros aren’t looking to endanger their status quo simply to accommodate a look at a 22-year-old prospect like Tucker. Still, as noted in the report, Tucker could theoretically be in line for more at-bats should the struggles of fellow outfielder Josh Reddick continue. Considered to be one of the two best prospects in the Houston system (along with hurler Forrest Whitley), Tucker hit .266/.354/.555 with 34 home runs in 536 PCL plate appearances this year.
More rumblings from around the league…
- Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo will be back to launching balls in batting practice this week, which will mark his first time in the cage since fracturing the hamate bone in his right hand on July 23rd. In a report from Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, Gallo admits that pain will still be a factor in determining whether or not the slugger should venture a 2019 return for an out-of-the-race club. “I don’t want to get on the field and not perform to capabilities and have to sit on that all winter,” Gallo said Monday. “We’re not in a playoff race, so I’m not worried about having to prove something.” Still, manager Chris Woodward projected that the club does expect Gallo to be good to go at some point in the next two weeks.
- Nary a day goes by on this site without an update regarding an injured Yankees player, and this Labor Day evening should be no different. YES reporter Meredith Marakovits passes along that outfielder Aaron Hicks was engaged in throwing exercises today–the first time he’s done so since being placed on the injured list with a flexor strain on Aug. 4 (Twitter link). Like most injuries involving the Yankees this year, Hicks’ injury really only opened the door for another, lesser-known player to open eyes with a surprising fill-in performance, as outfielder Mike Tauchman did with his solid August at the plate (.274 BA and 5 home runs in 84 at-bats). When healthy in 2019, Hicks has himself recorded a .235/.325/.443 line (100wRC+) in 255 plate appearances.
Trade Hicks allready
Why?
They just signed him to an extension …
Hicks is really good when healthy, just never health
History shows Hicks good vs Boston…a keeper
Does anybody else who clicks on Chris Woodward get sent to the Christin Stewart article from about 4hrs ago?
Yup
It does me too.
Whitley may still have a sky high ceiling but certainly nowhere near it looked a year ago. Or am I missing something here? He goes to Arizona now (i believe) instead of a September call up to spend more time with his pitching coach in Round Rock to face the best prospects from around MLB who are sent there.
I’m in no position to question the move. I am just surprised there isn’t more discussion about how one of the emphatically proclaimed ‘best prospects’ in baseball, a top ten amongst all in MLB by the pundits, has had a very down year.
This is a guy that was classified as “untouchable” at each deadline the past 2 years…maybe now it’s because the other 29 teams don’t see that fake…err…same value any longer.
Yeah, totally all that… or maybe, and hear me out here, he’s simply a 21-year-old top prospect who’s still a year away from the bigs. That could be it.
Does anyone know the reason for the 2 month layoff? This kid needs to get his head in the game to be one of the best…it seems. He has the tools, that seems to be a given…
He’s not a year from the bigs…he needs a spot now
that ERA in the double didgits in AAA really proves it.
someone with that WHIP, walk rate, and ERA needs a spot now?? maybe on the Tigers or Orioles..
I watched Whitley pitch yesterday at Corpus Christi (AA). He was extremely ineffective: 2 IP 3 R & 5 WP (granted the catcher could’ve handled him better). It was a sad display. I thought I would be watching a future star lol. Hope the best for the kid!
If anybody was wondering why the Yankees and Hicks liked a 7 years/$70M deal, this would be why. He’s a perennially injury prone player who has never been a lock to play 75%+ of a season and here we are again and if he makes it back, he’s gonna play in about 75 games total for the season. I am hoping he stays healthier longer next year, but that’s precisely why we signed him to the deal we did. Under paid when healthy, not over paid when on the IL and not playing.
well noted. I like Hicks and am happy with the contract, but I do wonder if they would have signed him to that extension if they knew at the time what they have in Tauchman. Even though he has slowed a bit over the last few weeks I really like his approach, his defence, his demeanor and lefty bat.
Play Tucker or trade him. Period.
Definitely the smart move with the 22 year old top prospect: impatience.
Bench Reddick. Back in my day, a real man’s slugging percentage started with a 4 or a 5.
Wilford I agree
Notice Alvarez was given the DH spot while Tucker is going to need to earn his at bats… what is the difference between the 22 year olds?
Minor League Sats
Tucker .266/ .354/ .555
Alvarez .343/ .443/ ..665
Alvarez had a walk percentage of 11%
Tucker had a walk percentage of 15%
The only other difference is the batting average. The batting average is the biggest difference. It causes the difference in OBP and the slugging and ultimately the OPS. The Astros are using the old fashioned batting average to evaluate their hitters… LOL
I know you’re trying to be one of the “batting average doesn’t matter” guys, but I don’t think it’s going to work here. Those are substantially different stat-lines.
Maybe he’s a SABRTroll.
Its the end result that counts
LOL
just stop.
yeah, the Astros evaluate based on slash lines uh huh.
I guess maybe they are using the fact that Alvarez has 22 homers and averaged an RBI per game since his call up where as Tucker failed miserably to produce when he was called up before. I would say the Astros management knows what they are doing.
@Melchez My guy…if someone says Player A is better than Player B simply because of batting average then that would be basing it off of the wrong information. In the case of Tucker vs Alvarez, Alvarez has a better walk rate and strikes out less. He’s also getting more base hits and hitting more HR per AB. That’s a fact as of 2019. Whether or not he can sustain it or not remains to be seen. But there’s something to be said for a hitter with better contact skills who can hit for power and still draw a high % of walks.
Southbeachbully My guy…if someone says Player A is better than Player B simply because of (any single stat) then that would be basing it off of the wrong information.
Tucker had a better walk rate at AAA.
1) There are already four good OFs in HOU .
2) Kyle Tucker was called up last year and hit .141.
3) Prospect rating is in itself, overrated.
4) The worst player in HOU was an overweight DH who wasn’t hitting..
5) Yordan Alvarez was called up and made an immediate impact and earns his at bats.
Josh Reddick is a fine OF glove but you don’t typically play a RF because he has an amazing glove. Tucker could certainly play over him next season. The guy hasn’t even turned 23 yet. He’ll be fine.
“typically”
Astros are 2nd in MLB in BA, 1st in OBP, 3rd in Slugging, and 2nd in OPS, while tied for best Winning %.
I’d keep going with that. Tucker does not win a single extra game for them, over what Reddick does, in real life. Probably fewer.
Yeah I mean I can post the weak link on any extremely talented baseball team and make the same argument. Reddick is far and away the worse regular. Tucker could be an upgrade. If he hits anywhere near what he does in AAA he certainly would be. They’re not going to find out this year anyway seeing as they added him after sept 1. I’m pretty sure they were a great offensive team last year too before adding Michael Brantley and Chirinos over Maldonado and Gonzalez. So I don’t think that’s much of an argument there.
2018 Stros
2nd in BA. 1st in OBP. 3rd in SLG%
They opted to go for Brantley and Chirinos over Gonzalez and Maldo. Also decided that Yordan Alvarez ought to boost their lineup as well. Even the best Teams are constantly looking to upgrade. Going to have a hard time convincing me RF defense is so significant that Reddick must play over a significantly better hitter. This is a moot point if Tucker doesn’t produce but in that case Reddick is still under contract next season so he could easily be subbed in if it’s not working. No need to make the switch at this point but at the beginning of next year I can’t imagine why Tucker wouldn’t be given the opp to compete.
Reddick is NOT the weak link. They play him for a reason, and that reason WINS games, that Tucker ain’t gonna win. I hope Tucker pans out long haul, but I’ve never heard that he is yet Reddick with the glove. Astros don’t really need to score more, but they do need to prevent any that they can. Makes everybody better.
mlbtraderumors.com/2019/09/tigers-minor-leaguer-ch…
Sexual assualt I get but why close a thread so we all can wish condolences for a family in need.
Because some troll is going to say something mean since he was skate
boarding. It’s a sad world…..
theyve said before people gave trolled such pages and therefore dont always open them for commenting.
@Eightball611
At this moment and time I doubt his family is checking for trade rumors. Better off saying a prayer. It means much more (imo).
There are algorithms you can set up to alert you every time your name is mentioned.
I can understand the Astros as they are in win now mode and can’t afford to let a rookie who doesn’t perform immediately on the job but I still hope for Tucker he gets traded. He simply needs time and trust of a club to let him play every day for half a season with no pressure to develope at the mlb level. Sure some rookie like yordan perform immediately but generally that is a tough situation for a young player to enter such a juggernaut team
Yeah, the good old “keep running him out here no matter what because our team sucks” Brett Wallace plan
Don’t ignore than defense. Tucker has been critiqued as running poor routes and not giving 100%. Reddick, while struggling at the plate is an excellent OF. Tucker has a sweet swing and will be just fine if he works at it.
Whitley has been giving batters the Tyler Kolek treatment all season. 7.99 ERA niiiice
Ooooo… that cuts. Sad story
I’m surprised the Astros called up Tucker right now. Round Rock is in the playoffs. He could lots of at bats there. Seems like there would some benefit to that versus a few MLB at bats. However, it seems the Astros don’t care about that.