Top outfield prospect Kyle Tucker will headline the Astros’ September call-ups, per Jake Kaplan of The Athletic (Twitter links). He’ll be joined by catcher Garrett Stubbs and left-hander Cionel Perez at the big league level today. Infielder/outfielder Myles Straw could be recalled later this week, too, once he’s met the 10-day minimum requirement for an optional assignment.
This won’t be the big league debut for Tucker, who ascended to the Majors as a 21-year-old in 2018. Tucker tallied only 72 plate appearances last season, though, and didn’t immediately distinguish himself in the sparse playing time he was allotted. He’s had another strong showing in Triple-A this season — albeit not as strong as last season’s .332/.400/.590 output through 100 games. That said, Tucker did recently polish off a 30-30 season with Round Rock; through 536 plate appearances this season he batted .266/.354/.555 with 34 long balls and 30 steals.
Tucker, 22, ranked inside the top 20 prospects in Major League Baseball on the midseason rankings of Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, Fangraphs, MLB.com and ESPN. He’s widely regarded as a potentially plus hitter with plus raw power who can cover enough ground in the outfield to play any of the three slots — though right field is typically believed to be his best position.
Houston’s outfield mix is crowded with Michael Brantley, George Springer, Josh Reddick and Jake Marisnick all in the fold, but Tucker should get some opportunities to showcase himself as a potential long-term piece in that outfield rotation and, perhaps, for a playoff roster spot. Each of Brantley, Springer, Reddick and Marisnick is signed or controlled through 2020, so there’s no immediate opening for next season unless the club makes some type of outfield move in the offseason. However, president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow has steadfastly declined to include Tucker in trade proposals for the past two years, suggesting that Tucker is indeed viewed as a likely building block for the ’Stros.
Looking to the other call-ups, Stubbs will give the Astros a bit of depth behind the dish, joining Robinson Chirinos and Martin Maldonado as a third option. The 26-year-old also has a bit of outfield experience but isn’t likely to factor into that equation much — if at all. He batted .240/.332/.397 in 235 plate appearances with Round Rock this season. The 23-year-old Perez, like most pitchers, struggled in this season’s high-octane offensive environment in Triple-A, working to a 5.36 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, 1.15 HR/9 and a 53.2 percent ground-ball rate in 47 innings. Houston doesn’t currently have a left-hander in the ’pen, so despite the fact that Perez has missed time with a forearm issue, he’ll join the club and give manager A.J. Hinch an option. Straw, 24, has batted .233/.353/.291 in 103 plate appearances with the Astros in 2019 and hit .322/.393/.396 with a homer and 19 steals in 309 Triple-A plate appearances.
I don’t get why they can’t just start Tucker over Reddick.
Defense
6 DRS is really not all that impressive. And the “best team in baseball” shouldn’t have .690 OPS guy starting.
Astros have 7 regulars over .900. That is unheard of.
Exactly. So why not give a long term guy who they refuse to trade with way more upside a chance to play every day and see if he can do better than Reddicks putrid offense.
Exactly. So why not give a long term guy who they refuse to trade with way more upside a chance to play every day and see if he can do better than Reddicks putrid offense.
I think Reddick might be moved this off season. Astros might look to make room for Tucker. Reddick only has one year of control. Tucker has 6 more years and their production might be pretty close to the same.
Maybe to the Cardinals to replace Ozuna?
I don’t think teams want to pay Reddick 13 million unless the Astros pay some of it.
I think the Astros will pay the majority of the $13MM and not get much in return. I do think Reddick is traded in the offseason.
Even some salary relief on Reddick would be huge. The budget is getting tight and they’re losing a lot of pitching this off-season, not to mention needed something consistent on both sides of the ball at catcher.
Many teams would take Reddick at that rate for just 1 season. Many contending teams with a corner OF spot up for grabs.
Why on earth would the Cardinals want Reddick?
I don’t get why you’d want to mess with success, Reddick may not be crushing like his teammates but they’ve been a pretty awesome team since they signed him. If they win the WS again this year I think it’d be stupid not to run it back with the same guys (minus Cole), Tucker will still be 23 with 5 years of control at the start of the 2021 season
amen. There is NO WAY that Astros win MORE Games replacing Reddick with Tucker, at this point.
I agree. Reddick is un appreciated
because they’re a better team with Reddick starting than with Tucker starting.
Because Reddick is 10 times the player.
Because he is not good.
Because that would be something he has to earn not be given. His time will come next year and Reddick will be gone.
Because Tucker has shown literally nothing at this level while Reddick has a solid track record despite his slump
All the hype. Hopefully he lives up to it. Just give him time.
They need to give him an extended look. With his age, he’s going to go quickly from top prospect to an AAAA player.
As everyone points out, Bregman had a putrid first 50 or so AB. I think Tucker needs consistent playing time with the Astros.
Tucker came up and not only did he not produce he had no hustle. He is not better than Springer Brantley Jake or Reddick. Maybe in 5 years. And as for Bregman he could play defense Tucker is a liability
He only hit .266 in “this season’s high-octane offensive environment in Triple-A, “
Yeah because a high batting average is how you measure offensive value nowadays.
“Yeah because a high batting average is how you measure offensive value nowadays.”
That’s what guys with low batting averages wants you to believe.
I would take my chances with a lineup full of .300 hitters.
Me too if their OBP, SLG, and other offensive numbers were good too. It’s the difference between Christian Yelich and Hanser Alberto.
It will take time but unless the league decides to considerably expand the roster permanently to say 30 which I hope not, this cycle of HR, BB or SO has to change. Too much money in the game and too many injuries. Pitchers will eventually be fought how to pitch and that will force hitters to adjust and actually learn to take whatever is given be it an opposite field hit, ground ball that advances the runner, etc. MLB has bet on partnering with saber metrics folks, fantasy gambling companies and video makers. They will however soon realize while trying to gain the younger audience, they’re losing the older class that does not gamble or play video games. I’m as passionate about BB and the Sox as so many others but I’ve watched much less this year than I did during the Bobby Valentine year or when they finished last in 14 and 15. The game is just not enjoyable to watch today.
The game has definitely been tough to watch. Flipped on a playoff game from 1984 between Detroit and KC. Way more enjoyable. Hitters were kept honest by pitchers, runners slid hard into second and infielders had to be disciplined with their footwork. The homerun is not a shock and awe anymore; anyone can do it and I’d rather watch a hustle triple. Much more exciting.
Did you miss the part where his OBP is .354 and slugging is .555? I don’t understand how people haven’t moved on from batting average being everything yet.
Maybe because aaa pitchers worked around him (obp)? Folks who ignore batting average also fail to acknowledge that if aaa pitching coaches with aaa pitchers can figure out how to get him out 74% of the time, mlb coaches and pitchers will exploit those weaknesses even more, no? Is batting average as important a gauge as in the past? Of course not, but it can’t be ignored either. A .265 batting average in that league against the majority of pitchers being right handed means he’s got some serious holes or pull tendencies that are already being exploited to the tune of 70 points off his batting average from one season to the next. He’s not facing proven major league starters down there. Harper is .250 and feasts on stupid pitches and bad location. Good pitchers make him look really bad. I expect the same will happen (at least initially) with Tucker. Minors are loaded with players who put up big numbers on the farm and fail to adapt to mlb pitching that pounds their weaknesses.
If his OBP is .354 then he’s not getting out 74% of the time.
Never said it was everything. When guys like Ty France is hitting .399, why does a guy like Kyle Tucker hit 266? And nobodies like Vargas (.403) and Frietas (.383) and Joseph (.371)… a guy hitting .266 really isn’t all that exciting. Sure he can hit a bunch of home runs in AAA… but he struck out 116 times.
Heck, Austin Allen of the Padres hit .330/ .379/ .663 in the PCL… I don’t hear you guys getting excited about his major league debut.
18 full time players in PCL have OBP over .400. I am still counting till I get to .354.
12 have Slug over .600
Jose Pirela has a much better line… 22 homers .353/ .401/ .674. Has anyone seen Pirela in the majors? Nothing like in PCL.
Matt Davidson is another example. 30 and 100, batting under .270. We saw his act in Chicago.
I’d take 9 guys hitting .300 in a heartbeat. Nobody should dismiss batting average. When a guy loses his ability to hit the baseball it’s a big deal/problem. Always has and always will.
Tucker’s OPS of.909 is impressive. Anything north of Reddick’s.690 will be welcome.
Agree 1000 percent high maybe in AAA only get real they did make him look bad and he is not as good as what we have
Oh boy here’s his chance
Astros are imitating the Dodgers and Yanks – bringing up a “can’t miss prospect” at every turn! The AL West will belong to the Astros for the next five years!
Rangers and A’s have a bunch of prospects coming up too. There will be good races in a few years
Rangers have absolutely nothing coming up for 3 years worth getting excited for. Farm is bare due to bad trades and poor development.
There is a fine line between Chris Davis (Orioles) in his prime and Yelich in regard to contact and production. If Tucker is homer happy with that unorthodox swing, he could quickly mirror Davis. If he’s contact oriented, then Yelich certainly seems within his abilities. I’d bet he’s more Gallo than Bellinger though with those swing mechanics.
Just a quick search of players with similar numbers to Tucker in the PCL…
Dixon Machado 17 homers .261/ .371/ ..480
Matt Davidson 33 homers .267/ .341/ ..531
Jack Mayfield 26 homers .287/ .351/ 569
Lewis Brinson 16 homers .270/ .361/ .510
Edwin Rios 31 homers .270/ .340/ .575
Chris Shaw 21 homers .298/ .355/ 592
Jarrett Parker 24 homers .269/ ..398/ .541
Sam Hilliard 35 homers .262/ .335/ .558
None of these guys has the best numbers on their teams… they just are similar to Tucker. Even on Tucker’s team, he has the 6th highest OPS of guys that played regularly. Alvarez, Toro, Rojas, DEREK FISHER, and Mayfield all had higher OPS.
I’m curious how he does in the majors, but some on here think he’s a instant major leaguer.
Tucker went through a brutal slump to the season. I think he was working on changing something in his swing mechanics. He was minor league player of the month in June I think. He will be fine. He will more than likely be a solid ML hitter, can’t say the same for the rest of the guys on your list. Houston has seen enough of Jack Mayfield this year.
Also keep in mind Tucker is much younger than those guys you listed. I think anyway, some of them I’ve never heard of.
Also keep in-mind Derek Fisher is overmatched in the majors.
I don’t see He is not near as good as the players we have or 2 or 3 of the bench players we have and I just don’t feel like hes ready. Maybe one day but this is not the time we have people on the bench that can outplay him why take away their at bats and their time on the field when he Had a chance he did not produce