Preston Tucker

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #14 prospect in 2015
  Tucker's younger brother Kyle, a 2015 draft prospect, will likely get drafted higher than Preston was, but Tucker has made himself into a legitimate prospect since signing as a senior (for $100,000) in 2012. After hitting 57 homers in four years at Florida, Tucker has done nothing but hit since turning pro, with 57 homers in two and a half seasons. As a thick-bodied lefthanded hitter with strong hands and enormous forearms, Tucker will go as far as his bat takes him. He has above-average power with a fringe-average hit tool to go with an aggressive approach. Tucker has solid strike-zone discipline and impacts the ball with a quick, simple swing that he fires through the zone. He has handled lefthanders in his career and hit .319 with seven homers against them in 2014, when he spent the second half at Triple-A. Tucker's below-average speed and fair athleticism, as well as his fringy arm, keep him tethered to left field if not first base. Tucker isn't yet on the 40-man roster, so he probably will begin 2015 at Triple-A Fresno.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #233 prospect in 2012 draft
  Tucker has anchored the Gators' lineup since he stepped on campus. He's moved to right field from first base for much of the last three seasons and has improved his defense in right to become an adequate college defender. After a slow start to 2011, Tucker came on and finished among the nation's top 20 in home runs despite the bat changes. His slow start and high bonus demands helped push Tucker down to the 16th round (Rockies). He didn't sign and returned for his senior year. Tucker is a known commodity, a thick-bodied, strong power hitter with limited value beyond his bat. While he has some arm strength, his lack of mobility in his 6-foot, 220-pound frame prompts most scouts to see him as at best a left fielder, if not a first baseman or DH. He's a 20 runner, and his bat speed is just average, so he doesn't always catch up to premium velocity. His Cape Cod League track record with wood bats is poor. What he has is present strength, a feel for hitting (he's about to break Mark Ellis' Florida career hits mark) and plus raw power. At worst, Tucker should anchor a Triple-A lineup down the line and get some big league cups of coffee thanks to his bat. At best, he could be a second-division regular in the Brian Daubach mold.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #15 prospect in 2015
  Tucker hit his way to the big leagues this season, earning a callup after slugging 10 home runs in the first month of the season for Fresno. Pressed into everyday duty by injuries, he established himself as a solid contributor to the Astros' lineup for much of the year. Tucker doesn't have the flashiest tools and he's always flown a little under the radar despite his long track record for hitting. His power is his best tool, and he has hit more than 20 home runs in his first three years of full-season ball. He is an aggressive hitter, but has a simple swing that allows him to barrel up the ball. Tucker has experience in both outfield corners as well as at first base, but has largely settled in left field. He has average arm strength and below-average speed but is an adequate defender.

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Tucker's younger brother Kyle, a 2015 draft prospect, will likely get drafted higher than Preston was, but Tucker has made himself into a legitimate prospect since signing as a senior (for $100,000) in 2012. After hitting 57 homers in four years at Florida, Tucker has done nothing but hit since turning pro, with 57 homers in two and a half seasons. As a thick-bodied lefthanded hitter with strong hands and enormous forearms, Tucker will go as far as his bat takes him. He has above-average power with a fringe-average hit tool to go with an aggressive approach. Tucker has solid strike-zone discipline and impacts the ball with a quick, simple swing that he fires through the zone. He has handled lefthanders in his career and hit .319 with seven homers against them in 2014, when he spent the second half at Triple-A. Tucker's below-average speed and fair athleticism, as well as his fringy arm, keep him tethered to left field if not first base. Tucker isn't yet on the 40-man roster, so he probably will begin 2015 at Triple-A Fresno.