RADIO
Riley Mrack profiles Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker as a waiver wire pickup or add target for Week 6 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season. His speed potential and everyday role in the lineup make him valuable in deeper mixed leagues.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
OWNED IN: 8% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: A prospect call-up that not many folks are talking about goes by the name of Cole Tucker. The Pittsburgh Pirates called up their new shortstop on April 20, and he made his presence felt immediately with a go-ahead two-run homer that eventually won them the game. Unfortunately for Tucker, he hasn’t left the yard since his debut in his last 11 starts, but it’s not his power that should catch the eye of fantasy owners.
Tucker’s scouting grade netted him a 60 in the Run category, his best-ranked skill. His most recent accomplishments in the stolen base column include a 47-steal season across two minor league levels in 2017 followed by a 35-steal campaign last year in Double-A. He’s yet to attempt a steal so far in the majors, but it’s only a matter of time before he gets comfortable and starts running wild.
With no threat of anyone taking over his position at shortstop, it’s Tucker’s opportunity to seize with Erik Gonzalez on the shelf for at least another two months. The Pirates utilized the 22-year-old as their leadoff man initially with Adam Frazier day-to-day, but have since moved him down to the eighth spot to get him more accustomed to the majors. His 33.3% K-rate undoubtedly needs to improve, but Tucker’s K% in the minors comfortably remained in the high-teens to low-20s annually, so there’s optimism he levels this out.
The switch-hitter will surely build on his current .214 batting average with his tremendous 57.1% Hard Hit rate which suggests that the bad luck bug may be biting him. Speed-deprived managers need to take notice of this youngster and count on some decent production in batting average and some thefts to come sliding in over the remainder of the 2019 season.
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