Cole Tucker | SS
Background
Tucker attends Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix and was the starting shortstop for the gold medal winning Team USA at the 18U World Cup in Taiwan last fall. He’s been very good at several national showcase events this spring. Tucker is committed to Arizona.
Scouting Report
Tall and wiry at 6-foot-3 and 165 lbs., Tucker is a switch-hitter who is more advanced and has a better swing from the left side of the plate. He does have bat speed from both sides, however, and he’s more of a contact-oriented gap-to-gap hitter than a power guy. Given his frame, he could certainly add strength and grow into some pop. Tucker runs well and has everything he needs to remain at shortstop long-term — quick first step, strong arm, good hands — there’s just some concern he’ll outgrow the position. Just about everything I’ve read about him referred to him as a gritty, hard-nosed player.
Miscellany
In their latest rankings, Keith Law (subs. req’d), MLB.com, and Baseball America ranked Tucker as the 62nd, 70th, and 83rd best prospect in the draft class, respectively. Switch-hitting shortstops are rather hard to find, but even if he has to drop switch-hitting, Tucker would still remain on the strong side of the platoon. The Yankees have a nice collection of shortstop prospects in the low minors (Abi Avelino, Tyler Wade, Thairo Estrada), but teams always want depth at the position. Their first pick is in the second round (55th overall).