[rQUOTEr]5. Houston selects: Kyle Tucker, OF, Plant High School (Tampa) Rank in Keith Law's Top 100: 8 The Astros grab high-school right fielder Tucker, who has perhaps the most impactful combination of both bat-to-ball skills and power projection in the draft. Tucker has improved his bat control this year, and now looks like a future middle-of-the-order hitter who provides solid defense in an outfield corner. He loads his hands in a way that reminds many of Ted Williams, but let's not run wild with overall profile comps to the greatest hitter ever. Kyle, whose brother Preston is currently on the Astros' major league roster, likely isn't coming at a heavy discount, so it seems less likely now that Houston grabs a big name with a later pick than it would have if they would have taken Andrew Benintendi here.[/rQUOTEr] <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Last year Kyle Tucker came to OKC to visit his brother. Took BP with the team one day. There was no difference between him and the others.</p>— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/status/608058763677999106">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If Cameron's asking price really is $5M, only threats to Astros would be Atlanta at #14 (They'd have to get discounts on a number of their picks, but they have a big enough pool) & the Rockies at #27 if they Rodgers was agreeable to a below slot bonus.
No. We should take him at 37. His 5 mil asking fee means he's going to be well over slot. I think Bregman and Tucker are eager to sign and could be under slot signees.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Manfred with a Selig-esque butchering of Andrew Benintendi’s name. Ahh, that brings back fond memories.</p>— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/aaronfitt/status/608058915671179265">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Luhnow said Bregman is elite college bat and would play a premium defensive position</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608059308136382464">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Luhnow, "These are two players we've targeted for a while, really since the work started on this year's class."</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608059242738806784">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On Tucker, Luhnow said they saw him a lot in the spring in Tampa and got to know the family.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608059396564910081">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Luhnow said skills and plus-plus makeup worked in favor of both Bregman and Tucker.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608059516899454978">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“They’re similar hitters to a large degree, their approach and their swings have some similarities” — Elias on Tucker brothers</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/608059641298358272">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elias said seeing success Preston had made them more comfortable with Kyle Tucker.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608059662752202752">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elias said Bregman will remain at SS, even into the big leagues. "That's a question that was answered very emphatically."</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608059795816517633">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As far as Correa-Bregman both at SS, Luhnow said Bregman can play different position if Correa is established. "Deal with that as it comes."</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608060087660355586">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scout John Martin says Kyle Tucker is a "five-tool player across the board." Body type different than Preston, but more upside w/strength.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/608060593212424192">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A New Mexico product, Bregman ranked as one of the best pure high school hitters in the 2012 Draft, but slid to the Red Sox in the 29th round because of his steadfast commitment to Louisiana State. The consensus national freshman of the year in 2013, he's now one of the top bats in this year's college crop. Bregman has an unconventional right-handed swing, but it works for him because he has a very quick bat and controls the strike zone well. He has some pull power and could develop average pop if he adds some loft to his stroke. He has average speed that plays up because of his instincts. Because of his size, tools and aggressive nature at the plate, he regularly gets compared to Dustin Pedroia. Like Pedroia, he appeared to be a college shortstop headed for second base in pro ball, but Bregman has looked better defensively this spring and may be able to stick at short. His arm and instincts allow him to make plays there, and he shows range to both sides. Though Preston Tucker slammed 49 homers with 197 RBIs in his first two full seasons in the Astros' system and is now in the big leagues, scouts say there's no doubt that his younger brother is a better prospect. Like Preston, Kyle committed to Florida out of Tampa's Plant High -- Hall of Famer Wade Boggs' alma mater -- but he's more likely to turn pro out of high school. Tucker has one of the purest swings and best bats in the 2015 high school crop. He makes consistent hard contact and, once he fills out his lanky frame, he could be a plus hitter in both average and power. He's a more well-rounded player than his older brother and should have average-or-better tools across the board. He'll likely move from center field to a corner spot in pro ball and has the arm strength needed to play right. A very strong spring moved him behind fellow Floridian Brendan Rodgers as the second best high school bat in the class.
It isn't. If we wanna get serious, he may not go in the top 10 rounds if we don't take him. The reason to sign him earlier would be because the slot for that spot would be higher.
The MLB draft is such a crapshoot that at some point someone would draft him despite the signability risk. Not in the first round but you can't take the risk for too long.
