Kyle Tucker

We are going to say it: Tucker was robbed in 2023. Since Khris Davis left the league, we have lacked a statistically consistent player and Tucker looked to have filled that need with what should have been his 30th homer on the final day of the season. That is, until the official scorer turned it into a triple with an error. That scurrilous decision robbed Tucker of a third consecutive 30 homer season and his first ever 30-30 season. All joking aside, Tucker had a monster fantasy season accepting his walks, rarely striking out, and stepping up as a run producer in the third spot of the lineup while Yordan Alvarez missed time. We have longed to have Tucker hitting in the upper third of the lineup and he did not disappoint with 47 RBIs in 56 games from that spot. Whereas Dusty Baker was reticent to make changes, Joe Espada may change things up to have Tucker hit second and have Bregman in between the lefty at bats. If that happens, Tucker is worth a top five overall pick.

Tucker broke out during the shortened 2020 campaign with an .837 OPS and has established himself as a key cog in the Astros' lineup over the past couple years. During 2022 he hit exactly 30 home runs for the second straight season and also stole 25 bases while being caught only four times in 150 games. He saw his batting average and ISO drop about 40 points each to .257 and .221, respectively, but he showed minor improvements in both his strikeout (15.7 percent) and walk rates (9.8 percent). Tucker's solid defense in right field further cements his spot in the everyday lineup, and his 129 wRC+ in the heart of Houston's potent order will continue to provide ample opportunities to rack up counting stats during his age-26 season in 2023.

Tucker flourished in his first season as a regular as he not only matched the performance from his first three partial seasons, he took it to the next level. Fewer strikeouts and more walks drove the improvement as Tucker was more aggressive swinging within the zone while also increasing contact. Additionally, Tucker simultaneously hit more flyballs while increasing his average exit velocity on flyballs, fueling his increase in power. Tucker continued to be an efficient base stealer, getting caught just twice in 16 attempts. He has 20-steal upside if the Astros let him run more. Tucker batted sixth or lower in 100 of 140 games, so more opportunities could follow if he hits higher this season. Most of the games Tucker missed were from two stints on the COVID-19 list. With 10 defensive runs saved, Tucker thrives with the glove as well. Tucker is a burgeoning fantasy stud with five-category potential.

Tucker was already slated to see a lot of playing time last season, but with Yordan Alvarez missing just about the entire year, Tucker appeared in 58 out of 60 games. His slash line was nearly identical to his short stay in 2019 but he did It without the benefit of the livelier ball. Tucker's K% improved which is key for someone so young, providing a batting average floor for his enticing power/speed upside. There's a lot of red in Tucker's Statcast profile, indicating his performance is supported by strong batted-ball skills, notably average exit velocity and hard-hit rate. Icing on the cake is a tidy 8-for-9 in stolen-base attempts, prorating to a 20-steal campaign. Tucker is assured of regular playing time, hitting in the middle of a potent order. Entering just his age-24 season, Tucker checks all the boxes for the classic five-category stud, with future first-round, $30-plus potential.

The Astros stuck by Josh Reddick throughout the 2019 season, much to the chagrin of Tucker's fantasy owners. He did finally get some run in September and enjoyed his first taste of big-league success, and even earned a spot on the postseason roster through the World Series. On account of being stuck at Triple-A and accumulating 536 PA with Round Rock, Tucker put up a 30-30 season, leading the PCL in stolen bases. He walked at an 11.2% clip while striking out 21.6% of the time. The latter number jumped to 27.8% against big-league arms and it is a long, unconventional swing, but the batted-ball numbers were excellent and his track record suggests he will be able to make enough contact. The big question is: how much will he run? Houston as a club stole 67 bases all year (17th in total attempts), though Tucker was active on the basepaths and it's possible the Astros run more under a new manager.

Tucker was the second-youngest player and third-best hitter (155 wRC+) in the Pacific Coast League. He had three short stints in the big leagues (MLB debut on July 7) but never got going at the dish. In the 28 Triple-A games (including PCL playoffs) that followed his MLB debut, he hit .388/.463/.750 with 12 home runs and eight steals, so it is safe to say he has nothing to prove at that level. Tucker has plus power and should have no trouble hitting 20-plus homers once he is playing every day. His stolen-base totals oversell his pure speed, but he has good instincts on the bases and should be a double-digit contributor there as well. His batted-ball profile at Triple-A was ideal (35.8 GB%), and while he may not be a .300 hitter, he will do a lot of damage as a .270 or .280 hitter. To manipulate his service time to maximize their years of control, the Astros would need to hold Tucker down until mid-May, which would be disingenuous, but also can't be ruled out.

Reasonable minds could disagree about whether power, speed or batting average will be Tucker's most valuable fantasy contribution, and that's the selling point. He's good at everything. In 2016 he stole 32 bases on 44 tries. He only stole 21 bags last year, but launched 25 homers across stops at High-A and Double-A, putting an end to the "will he hit for power" debate. A .286 BABIP suppressed his Texas League batting average, but his hit tool has the potential to be special -- his swing receives Ted Williams comps. Tucker has been unduly pull happy (49.1 percent pull rate at Double-A) for a prospect with the raw talent to compete for batting titles. His newfound over-the-fence power may have momentarily compromised his approach, but with more upper-level instruction, he should eventually display an all-fields approach. He is the Astros' best hitting prospect since Alex Bregman and capable of playing all three outfield spots, so while the big-league roster is crowded, the velvet rope will be lifted when he's ready to join the mix this summer.

Drafted fifth overall in 2015, Tucker spent much of last season with Low-A Quad Cities but reached the High-A level for the final 16 games of his age-19 campaign. The brother of Preston Tucker (also in the Astros organization), Kyle didn't miss a beat following the promotion. In fact, he surged at the dish, going 20-for-59 (.339 average) with 11 extra-base hits and a 10:6 BB:K with Lancaster. Not only does Tucker demonstrate an advanced approach and discerning eye for his age, he has plus speed and there's plenty of room for power growth as he fills out his 6-foot-4 frame. He is already a top-20 prospect for fantasy purposes and he has the skill set to rise quickly through the system, so Tucker should be treated as a hot commodity in any long-term keeper league with minor league roster spots.

Tucker, the fifth overall pick of the 2015 draft, joined the same organization as his older brother Preston when the Astros selected him last June. One of the top hitting prospects in the 2015 class, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound outfielder struggled in rookie ball, hitting only .246/.294/.353 in 63 games between the Gulf Coast League and Greeneville Astros. He did help Greeneville win the Appalachian League title, however, alongside 37th overall pick Daz Cameron.