Drafted in the 21st round (630th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2001.
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RHP Rusty Tucker had a solid season for Maine, leading the America East Conference in ERA and earning league pitcher-of-the-year honors. He's a two-year veteran of the Cape Cod League, where he proved he can pitch against better competition. Tucker has fringe-average stuff with a fastball clocked as low as 83 mph and as high as 91, but usually 87-89. He also has a solid changeup. His command and competitiveness are his greatest strengths, and he projects as a middle reliever.
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Tucker is one of the better stories in the Padres system. Drafted in 2001, he touched the low 90s in his pro debut, but began the 2002 season sitting in the mid-90s and touching 99 He shot through the Padres system and looked like the team's closer of the future before he had Tommy John surgery in August 2003. Tucker's rehab went as scheduled, and he returned to the mound for late-season work in high Class A last year. When healthy, Tucker's velocity was the best in the system, and he was back to throwing consistently in the low 90s during instructional league. He needs to find the velocity he once had, as his heater offers little in the way of movement. His breaking ball has always been slurvy, and his command spotty. The Padres hope the injury will be a blessing in disguise, forcing Tucker to become more of a pitcher than a thrower. He'll begin anew in 2005, most likely in Double-A.
After a breakthrough in velocity in 2002, Tucker continued to pitch well after a promotion to Double-A last season. He continued to throw in the mid-90s, an astounding fastball for a short lefthander, and blew away Southern League hitters. But he lost some velocity and started to get hit in July, then felt a pop in his elbow when he threw a pitch in early August. He had Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter and probably won't pitch during the 2004 regular season. The track record with that operation is very good, so Tucker should be able to regain his fastball after diligent rehabilitation. When he comes back, he'll need to continue to tighten a hard, slurvy breaking ball into a true slider. Tucker was starting to learn that there's more than pitching to sheer power, as he mixed in more two-seam fastballs and changeups than in the past. His four-seamer lacks much movement and he'll need to find something he can use to shutdown righthanders. They hit .256 and slugged .372 against him in 2003, compared to .188 and .250 by lefties. He'll also have to improve his control. The Padres won't rush Tucker back and would be happy to get him back on the mound after the season in instructional league or the Arizona Fall League.
Coming out of Maine as a 21st-round pick in 2001, Tucker was the America East Conference pitcher of the year but had fringe-average stuff. He touched the low 90s in his pro debut but was wild, leading the Pioneer League in walks, and lacked confidence. All of sudden, he threw 94-97 mph in his first 2002 appearance and never stopped. Managers rated him the best reliever in the Midwest League. The Padres aren't sure how Tucker started throwing in the mid-90s and touching 99, not that they're complaining. They tried to slow down his delivery so he could throw more strikes, but didn't expect this. His slider also improved, reaching 79-81 mph with nice bite. He has a fearless closer's mentality. There isn't much deception to Tucker's fastball. He's not tall and uses a drop-and-drive delivery, so his heater comes in on a flat plane and without much movement. He still needs to refine his command. Just as they did in the second half last year, Tucker and Mike Nicolas will form a nasty lefty-righty, late-inning combination in 2003, this time in Double-A. Tucker got most of the saves at high Class A Lake Elsinore but may have to share more this year.
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Rated Best Reliever in the Midwest League in 2002
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