- Full name T.J. Tucker
- Born 08/20/1978 in Clearwater, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 245 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 06/03/2000
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Tucker made his major league debut in 2000, when he made two starts with the Expos in June. He left the second game with forearm pain and ended up missing the second half of the season after having arthroscopic elbow surgery. He returned last season and was able to remain healthy, pitching 166 innings between Harrisburg and Ottawa. Tucker is a moose on the mound with four major league average pitches. He has a 90-92 mph fastball with very good boring and sinking action. He throws it to both sides of the plate and keeps it down in the strike zone. A 77-78 mph curveball, 81-85 mph slider and 80-83 mph changeup with good sink round out his repertoire. His command can be a little off at times, and his stuff isn't so dominant that he can get away with mistakes. The Expos have an opening at the end of their rotation and Tucker will be in the running to fill the void. -
Tucker began 2000 at Double-A and pitched well in seven starts before a promotion to Montreal. In his second of two starts with the Expos, he left with a strained right forearm. He made one rehab outing with Harrisburg before getting shut down for the season and undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery. Tucker is a big body who's praised for his competitiveness, acumen and feel for pitching. He has outstanding command of a 90-93 mph fastball that has a bit of tail. He supplements his fastball with a nasty 75-78 mph curveball with a 12-to-6 downward break, and a straight changeup. It's imperative that Tucker improve both his strength and conditioning. He lacks command with his curveball at times, but it's a dominant pitch when he consistently throws it for strikes. After pitching well in instructional league, Tucker is expected to be healthy and ready to go for spring training. If he's able to get in a full Triple-A season, he should challenge for a spot in the Montreal rotation in 2002. -