Cole Tucker is a young baseball player who made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019. After spending the 2022 season with the Pirates, Tucker signed a one-year minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies in December of that year.
However, on Wednesday, the Rockies announced that they had reassigned Tucker to the minor leagues. This blog post will look at what happened to Cole Tucker, from his background and early career to his contract with the Rockies and subsequent stint in the minors.
We will also discuss what this means for Tucker’s future and whether he could potentially return to the majors in the near future.
Who is Cole Tucker?
Background Information
Cole Tucker is a professional baseball player born on July 3, 1996 in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix and was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft.
Tucker is a shortstop and outfielder who stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds.
Early career
After being drafted by the Pirates, Tucker began his professional career in 2014 playing for the Pirates of the Gulf Coast League. In 2015, he played for the West Virginia Power, a Class A affiliate of the Pirates, and in 2016, he played for the Bradenton Marauders, a Class A Advanced affiliate.
In 2017, he played for the Altoona Curve, a Double-A affiliate, and in 2018, he played for the Indianapolis Indians, a Triple-A affiliate.
Major League Debut
Tucker made his major league debut with the Pirates on April 20, 2019, against the San Francisco Giants. He hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat, becoming the first Pirates player to do so in his MLB debut.
Tucker appeared in 56 games for the Pirates in 2019, hitting .211 with 1 home run, 11 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. He split the 2020 season between the Pirates and their alternate training site, playing in 26 games and hitting .220 with 1 home run and 4 RBIs.
In 2021, Tucker appeared in 83 games for the Pirates, hitting .203 with 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases.
Tucker’s 2022 season
Play with Pirates
During the 2022 season, Tucker appeared in 70 games for the Pirates, hitting .219 with 2 home runs, 14 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases. He split his time between shortstop and the outfield, demonstrating his versatility in the field.
While his numbers may not have been overwhelming, Tucker showed potential and continued development as a player.
Contract negotiations with the Rockies
After becoming a free agent following the 2022 season, Tucker began contract negotiations with several teams, including the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies were interested in Tucker’s potential and versatility and offered him a one-year minor league deal in December 2022.
Signs with the Rockies
Tucker ultimately signed the one-year minor league contract with the Rockies, which gave him the opportunity to further develop his skills in the minor leagues and potentially earn a spot on the major league roster later in the season.
The contract was a low-risk move for the Rockies, allowing them to evaluate Tucker’s progress in the minor leagues and potentially add him to their major league roster later in the season.
Tucker’s signing with the Rockies was seen as a fresh start for the young player, who had struggled to establish himself as a starter on the Pirates roster.
While he would begin the 2023 season in the minor leagues, Tucker had the potential to return to the major leagues and establish himself as a valuable player for the Rockies.
The Rockies assigned Tucker to minor league camp
Reassignment to minor league camp means that a player who was previously on the major league team is sent to the minor league to further develop his skills.
In Tucker’s case, he had signed a minor league contract with the Rockies, which meant he was not guaranteed a spot on the major league roster. However, the move to the minor leagues meant he was not part of the major league team after spring training.
Possible reasons for reassignment
There could be several reasons why the Rockies moved Tucker to minor league camp. One possibility is that the team wanted him to further develop his skills in the minor leagues before potentially being promoted to the big leagues later in the season.
Another reason could be that there simply wasn’t room for him on the major league roster at the moment and the team wanted to give him more time to work his way into the lineup.
Reaction from Tucker and the Rockies organization
While it can be disappointing for a player to be moved to the minor leagues, Tucker seemed to take the news with enthusiasm. He posted a message on his Instagram account saying he looked forward to continuing to work and improve in the minor leagues.
The Rockies organization also expressed confidence in Tucker’s abilities and potential. In a statement, Rockies manager Bud Black said, “Cole Tucker is a talented player with a bright future ahead of him. We look forward to watching him continue to develop and contribute to our organization.”
Overall, the move to the minor leagues isn’t necessarily a setback for Tucker, but rather an opportunity for him to further develop his skills and potentially work his way onto the major league roster later in the season .
What’s next for Tucker?
Opportunities for the 2023 season
With Tucker moving to the minor leagues, it is likely that he will start the 2023 season in the minor leagues. He will, however, have the opportunity to continue to hone his skills and potentially be called up to the major leagues later in the season.
The Rockies could also use Tucker as a utility player as he has shown the ability to play both shortstop and the outfield.
How the Rocky Mountains could use Tucker in the future
Provided Tucker continues to develop his skills, the Rockies could use him in a variety of ways in the future. He has shown the ability to play multiple positions, which could make him a valuable utility player for the team.
Additionally, he has some speed on the bases, which could make him a valuable pinch runner or base stealer off the bench.
Potential for Tucker to return to the major leagues
Although being sent back to the minor leagues is a setback for Tucker, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of his major league career. If he continues to improve his skills and perform well in the minor leagues, he could be called up to the major leagues later in the season.
Additionally, injuries or other roster changes could open up a major league roster spot for him at any time. Overall, Tucker has the potential to return to the big leagues and establish himself as a valuable contributor for the Rockies in the future.
Cole Tucker Major League Statistics (at the end of the 2022 season)
| Year | team | Games played | In bats | Hit | The circuits | Runs batted in (RBI) | Batting average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | DITCH | 56 | 165 | 37 | 2 | 11 | .211 |
| 2020 | DITCH | 26 | 70 | 13 | 1 | 4 | .185 |
| 2021 | DITCH | 49 | 127 | 28 | 2 | ten | .220 |
| 2022 | DITCH | 36 | 76 | 15 | 1 | 3 | .197 |
This table shows Cole Tucker’s statistics for each year he played in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The columns list the year, team he played for, number of games played, at-bats, hits, home runs, RBIs, and batting average. These statistics can help evaluate Tucker’s performance in the major leagues and track his progress over time.
FAQs
What position does Cole Tucker play?
Cole Tucker is primarily a shortstop but has also played in the outfield.
How old is Cole Tucker?
Cole Tucker was born on July 3, 1996 and will be 27 years old in 2023.
What is Cole Tucker’s career batting average?
At the end of the 2022 season, Cole Tucker’s career major league batting average was .209.
Has Cole Tucker won any awards?
Cole Tucker is yet to win any major awards in his baseball career.
What was Cole Tucker’s draft position?
Cole Tucker was drafted in the first round (24th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2014 MLB Draft.
What is Cole Tucker’s background?
Cole Tucker was born and raised in Arizona and attended Mountain Pointe High School. His father was a minor league coach, and he grew up playing baseball alongside his brother, who also played professionally.
Does Cole Tucker have social media accounts?
Yes, Cole Tucker is active on Instagram and Twitter. His accounts are @cotuck on Instagram and @cotuck on Twitter.
Diploma
Cole Tucker is a talented baseball player who signed a minor league contract with the Rockies in December 2022. He was recently reassigned to minor league camp, meaning he has not made the team major leagues after spring training.
However, this isn’t necessarily a setback for Tucker, as he has the opportunity to further develop his skills in the minor leagues and potentially be called up to the major leagues later in the season.
With his versatility on the field and growth potential, Tucker could be a valuable contributor for the Rockies in the future.
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