Cole Tucker

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #6 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Pirates coaxed Tucker out of a commitment to Arizona by taking him in the first round in 2014. Labrum surgery ended his 2015 season and cost him time in 2016. In 2017 he suffered a thumb injury and a hand fracture but had his best pro season, stealing 47 bases and slugging .408 combined at high Class A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona. He struggled early in 2018 but a solid July got him back on track. He finished with 33 extra-base hits and 35 stolen bases, then played well in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Tucker has a wiry frame with long levers, and with that much body to control, he can get out of sync at times. He was off balance in the batter's box for most of 2018 and didn't seem to even out until the end of the season. Still, he has some gap-to-gap power, and his plus speed with long strides makes him a constant threat to steal bases. Defensively, he's a fluid athlete with above-average range and an above-average arm, making him a prototype shortstop.
  
  The Future: Tucker will begin 2019 at Triple-A Indianapolis. He should compete with Kevin Newman to be the Pirates' everyday shortstop in 2020 or shortly thereafter.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #6 prospect in 2018
  The Pirates surprised many by taking Tucker in the first round in 2014 convincing him to pass up a commitment to Arizona. He missed time in 2015 as he recovered from labrum surgery to his right shoulder and the injury seemed to still limit him in 2016. Despite a broken left thumb, he had his best offensive season at high Class A Bradenton in 2017, when he led the Florida State League with 36 stolen bases, then helped Double-A Altoona to an Eastern League championship. Tucker made drastic strides as a hitter in 2017, greatly improving his strike-zone awareness and overall approach. He has a loose swing and quick hands from both sides of the plate. Below-average power is still the weakest part of his game, but he has present gap power. His wiry frame suggests he can add strength as he ages. Tucker's long strides obscure his plus speed, his most impressive tool, and he drastically improved his intelligence on the basepaths in 2017. He is a fluid athlete with good range who projects as above-average at shortstop, and his above-average arm is back to full strength. Tucker will likely start 2018 at Double-A Altoona but could eventually challenge Kevin Newman for a spot in the big leagues.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #8 prospect in 2017
  The Pirates surprised many by selecting Tucker with the 24th overall pick in the 2014 draft, with the industry consensus that he was a second- to third-round talent. He signed for $1.8 million to pass up an Arizona commitment. Tucker's raw, projectable tools and off-the-charts makeup are what attracted the Pirates. They believe he has the potential to hit for above-average power because of his large frame, all while retaining the athleticism necessary to play shortstop. Tucker's potentially average hitting ability has yet to truly manifest itself in pro ball, but he has shown enough flashes for the Pirates to keep faith, especially because he puts together solid at-bats from both sides of the plate. Tucker had shoulder surgery late in the 2014 season but continues to regain arm strength while showing solid range and hands. He is an above-average runner who is still learning to translate his speed into success on the basepaths. Tucker will begin 2017 back at high Class A Bradenton after struggling as one of the younger players in the Florida State League in 2016. He still is a project, but his tools, athleticism and youth remain intriguing.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #7 prospect in 2016
  The Pirates raised eyebrows when they used the 24th overall pick in 2014 to select Tucker, whom they signed for $1.8 million. Many teams had him turned in as a third-round talent, but the Pirates followed Tucker closely because his summer-league coach was former Pittsburgh first baseman Kevin Young, now a special assistant with the organization. Tucker tore the labrum in his right shoulder in August 2015 and could miss most of 2016, though he might be able to take part in instructional league. Tucker, despite his 6-foot-3 frame, is a pure shortstop with good range and instincts and a strong arm, though there is no way of knowing exactly how much shoulder surgery will affect his throwing. Tucker has good hand-eye coordination and contact skills as a hitter, and the switch-hitter figures to add at least moderate power as he matures. He is a plus runner with good baserunning instincts. Tucker draws high marks for his intangibles and leadership skills. He has an outstanding feel for the game and is bright, personable and mature for his age. Tucker does not turn 20 until July 2016 and already has batted 300 times in a full-season league, so even if he missed all of 2016 it should not be a crushing setback to his development. He figures to begin 2017 at high Class A Bradenton.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #8 prospect in 2015
  Many other teams had pegged Tucker as a second- or third-round talent in the 2014 draft, but the Pirates were higher than the consensus on the lanky shortstop, especially after he impressed at the National High School Invitational. They signed him for $1.8 million as the 24th overall pick. Tucker's strong suit at this stage of his career is defense, for he has excellent range, a plus arm and good instincts. He is athletic enough to stay at the position despite his 6-foot-3 height. Scouts were impressed with his ability to make strong, accurate throws from a variety of arm angles. The longarmed Tucker will likely always have to prove he can handle pitches in on his hands, especially when batting from the left side. He took up switch-hitting two years ago, but he does a good job of making contact from both sides, and his lefthanded swing features good bat speed and a compact swing path. He should get stronger as he matures, but his swing is geared for line drives, which makes it hard to project more than 10 home runs a season. A long-strider who is a tick above-average runner, he shows good instincts on the basepaths. Tucker was just 17 when he made his debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and the Pirates believe he is mature enough to handle an assignment to low Class A West Virginia in 2015.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #84 prospect in 2014 draft
  A high-energy, scrappy player with passion for the game, Tucker was the starting shortstop for USA Baseball National team that won its second consecutive World Cup gold medal last summer. He has plus instincts that make his tools play up. Tucker began switch-hitting two years ago, but his natural lefthanded swing offers better bat speed and a more compact swing path. He could be at least an average hitter (with the potential to be better) as a high-contact bat that uses the whole field and stays inside the ball. His line-drive swing path will likely limit him to below-average power, as he drives the ball to the gaps. Tucker's speed plays at plus out of the box and is even better underway as a long strider. A natural athlete, Tucker has the ability to stay at shortstop with an above-average arm that can throw from different angles, soft hands and smooth actions. The long, lean and wiry Tucker offers a considerable amount of projection with his body for a position player at 6-foot-3, 175 pounds. He has long arms, big feet and will likely add a significant amount of strength. As a tall lefthanded-hitting infielder that can play shortstop, Tucker has drawn comparisons to Andy Fox. The Arizona commit comes from a baseball family and his father is in the Florida high school baseball hall of fame. Tucker is very young for the class and won't be 18 until after draft day.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #18 prospect in 2019
  Tucker holds the label as a glove-first infielder, a wizard at times at shortstop. He also played a few games at second base, just to bolster his versatility. A spring callup to the big leagues when he was just 22 years old gave him an idea of what to expect. "He now understands,” Indianapolis manager Brian Esposito said. "He has done some things better and has worked on his approach.” Tucker needs to put more balls in play and until he does that there will be questions, though he has some sneaky power at the plate. His attitude and work ethic rank high.
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  Ranked Florida State League #9 prospect in 2017
  A 2014 first-rounder, Tucker repeated the league but wasn't the same player--in a good way. A year further removed from shoulder surgery, Tucker showed average arm strength to go with a quicker, smoother transfer and enough accuracy to give scouts and managers confidence he could be an average defender at shortstop. At his size, he also has a chance to move to center field, where his long strides and speed could make him a defensive asset. Tucker already is an asset offensively as a daring baserunner and basestaeler who plays with energy and athleticism. He rankedseventh in the minors with 47 stolen bases overall. Patient enough to draw walks, he can both bunt and move runners as well, while showing the improved power at the plate to do damage, both to the gaps and over the fence on occasion.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #15 prospect in 2015
  A shoulder injury ended Tucker's season in late July, and the resulting labrum surgery probably will sideline him for most of 2016 as well. But before he was sidelined, the 2014 first-rounder impressed scouts and managers with his size, athleticism and hand-eye coordination. Tucker is a tall shortstop and eventually he may grow into a massive one. Multiple evaluators noticed his large feet and frame that could handle more weight. "He can really play shortstop," one scout said. "His range and arm and actions are good for a shortstop. He doesn't have the explosive tools, but he has good instincts and takes good angles." At the plate, Tucker should grow into power, but he already has bat speed to go with his knack for squaring up pitches.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #11 prospect in 2014
  One of the youngest players in the 2014 draft, Tucker signed with the Pirates for $1.8 million as the No. 24 overall pick and had a steady debut. Tucker offers a promising combination of athleticism and plus instincts. A long, lanky switch-hitter, he is more advanced from the left side, where his swing is more compact and he has better bat-to-ball skills. He employs a line-drive stroke with gap power, though there's plenty of strength projection to grow into more pop. With his long arms, he naturally has a few holes in his swing, especially from the right side. He has a patient approach to take his walks. Tucker is tall for a shortstop, but he's athletic and should stick at the position. He has above-average speed and arm strength.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Tucker holds the label as a glove-first infielder, a wizard at times at shortstop. He also played a few games at second base, just to bolster his versatility. A spring callup to the big leagues when he was just 22 years old gave him an idea of what to expect. "He now understands,” Indianapolis manager Brian Esposito said. "He has done some things better and has worked on his approach.” Tucker needs to put more balls in play and until he does that there will be questions, though he has some sneaky power at the plate. His attitude and work ethic rank high.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Tucker remains the most fluid defender of the Pirates’ middle infield prospects and a prodigious base-stealer, which gives him survivable skills. Tucker pressed at the plate for much of 2018’s first half and struggled hitting lefthanded—usually the switch-hitter’s best side — but the Pirates identified the flaw as him pulling out too far on his front side. After working on that and to cut down excess movement, Tucker has turned it around and is batting .315/.387/.478 since June 24.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Pirates surprised many by selecting Tucker with the 24th overall pick in the 2014 draft, with the industry consensus that he was a second- to third-round talent. He signed for $1.8 million to pass up an Arizona commitment. Tucker's father John played in the Cardinals system and is a member of the Florida high school baseball hall of fame. Scouting Report: Tucker's raw, projectable tools and off-the-charts makeup are what attracted the Pirates. They believe he has the potential to hit for above-average power because of his large frame, all while retaining the athleticism necessary to play shortstop. Tucker's potentially average hitting ability has yet to truly manifest itself in pro ball, but he has shown enough flashes for the Pirates to keep faith, especially because he puts together solid at-bats from both sides of the plate. Tucker had shoulder surgery late in the 2014 season but continues to regain arm strength while showing solid range and hands. He is an above-average runner who is still learning to translate his speed into success on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: Tucker will begin 2017 back at high Class A Bradenton after struggling as one of the younger players in the Florida State League in 2016. He still is a project, but his tools, athleticism and youth remain intriguing.
• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Many other teams had pegged Tucker as a second- or third-round talent in the 2014 draft, but the Pirates were higher than the consensus on the lanky shortstop, especially after he impressed at the National High School Invitational. They signed him for $1.8 million as the 24th overall pick. Tucker's strong suit at this stage of his career is defense, for he has excellent range, a plus arm and good instincts. He is athletic enough to stay at the position despite his 6-foot-3 height. Scouts were impressed with his ability to make strong, accurate throws from a variety of arm angles. The longarmed Tucker will likely always have to prove he can handle pitches in on his hands, especially when batting from the left side. He took up switch-hitting two years ago, but he does a good job of making contact from both sides, and his lefthanded swing features good bat speed and a compact swing path. He should get stronger as he matures, but his swing is geared for line drives, which makes it hard to project more than 10 home runs a season. A long-strider who is a tick above-average runner, he shows good instincts on the basepaths. Tucker was just 17 when he made his debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and the Pirates believe he is mature enough to handle an assignment to low Class A West Virginia in 2015.