The Pittsburgh Pirates designated former first round draft pick Cole Tucker for assignment on Monday morning. The move was made after the Pirates acquired infielder Yu Chang from the Cleveland Guardians. However, it comes as a surprise given that Tucker is still just 25-years old.
Unfortunately, his professional baseball career has not gone the way he had hoped. He was once considered the future shortstop of the Pirates. Many expected Tucker and Ke'Bryan Hayes to lead the team for years to come. But he slashed just .211/.259/.314 over parts of four seasons in Pittsburgh. Despite his struggles, Cole Tucker is one of the more popular players in MLB.
He is dating actress Vanessa Hudgens which helped turned him into a celebrity of sorts. Additionally, Tucker is known for his infectious personality. Most players and personnel around the league have nothing but good things to say about him.
But Cole Tucker simply has not gotten the job done at the big league level. In 2022, Tucker slashed .175/.175/.222 with a .397 OPS over 18 games. He hit no home runs and drove in 2 RBIs. The one area of Tucker's game which made him a valuable asset to the Pirates was his defensive versatility. His ability to play multiple positions in the infield and outfield placed him in a super utility role.
But his offensive struggles and inability to live up to his initial ceiling ultimately forced the Pirates to make the difficult decision on his future in the organization.
However, this certainly is not the end of the road for Tucker. The former high-ceiling prospect is still just 25 years old. He is bound to attract interest from teams based on his potential alone.
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