Donaldson really making me question whether he has ever actually watched baseball before: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I love the fact <a href="https://twitter.com/TimTebow">@TimTebow</a> wants to play baseball. Looks like a left handed version of Jeff Bagwell. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mlb?src=hash">#mlb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tebowdroppintankstime?src=hash">#tebowdroppintankstime</a></p>— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) <a href="https://twitter.com/BringerOfRain20/status/770717094937763841">August 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Fresno's Brady Rodgers - the PCL Pitcher of the Year - is pulled after two scoreless innings. Maybe he's getting good news?</p>— Mike Curto (@CurtoWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtoWorld/status/771179621391802369" data-datetime="2016-09-01T02:55:24+00:00">September 1, 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After being named PCL Pitcher of Year this morning, a healthy Brady Rodgers was pulled after 2 IP, 0 H, 4 K. Infer what you will. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Paul Braverman (@PaulBraverman) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulBraverman/status/771180186725265413">September 1, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Potential Astros September call-up. … <a href="https://t.co/k7zqU320Wc" title="https://twitter.com/PaulBraverman/status/771180186725265413">twitter.com/PaulBraverman/…</a></p>— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakemkaplan/status/771180379612942340" data-datetime="2016-09-01T02:58:24+00:00">September 1, 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
All the scouting reports raved about his swing, saying it was Ted William's remenisant. That's lofty company, and someone to hold your breath for to move up the minors. When all is said and done, Altuve, Correa, Bregman, K. Tucker, and Springer will be one of the most feared lineups.
Keuchel has a tired arm. I could see the Astros subbing Rodgers in the rotation or maybe even going to a 6 man rotation for the remainder. Rodger or Devenski could be the 6th man.
I don't think they'll expand the rotation, but they will have a quick hook or innings limit on the starters. With Rodgers, Peacock, Devenski, and Feliz in the bullpen they'll always have an extra arm to pick up the slack.
Meh. He has never hit for a decent average in the Minors. Has pop and good eye on the plate. But he does have the knack for monster games, occasionally hitting grand slams. He has the raw tools, but just like Martes, needs to be the developed more than others.
Bingoooo. Tucker will be the last piece to the core, on offense, just surrounded them with others. Just like Bregman was untouchable, so should Tucker. Why not, giving that the Astros farm system is deep enough to deal others for a starting pitcher in the offseason.
If everything goes well and power gets a boost next year like I think it will, Tucker should be a June call up in 2018.
With this late audition in Lancaster he could be in AA by July of next year. That indeed puts him in range to be in Houston by June of 2018.
Not Progs, but he's at that age that power develops for a lot of prospects. He's got the body for power. Basically, it comes down to whether the Astros hitting gurus can get him to hit with more loft on the ball.
Plus, he is a long 6'4 who will only get stronger and more matured, body wise. He is only 19 right now and next year he will be going into his 3rd year in the Minors. He is also hitting a lot of doubles which is encouraging. Pretty sure Astros brass will have him in a strength & conditioning program in the offseason. When you compared him with someone like Moran, Moran was 22 when he was trying to discovered his power stroke and didn't have nearly the power Tucker already has.
This is just a basic primer for ALL prospects, not anything about Tucker in particular. He could develop like a Shawn Green type, without the steroid years, which is 15-20 homers but talking about him being some type of staple for years to come is incredibly premature. Tucker was just promoted to one of the most hitter friendly leagues in all of baseball, we'd expect his numbers to shoot up all of a sudden. He does have a sweet looking swing though, I'll give him that.
