Rockies' Cole Tucker: Misses out on season-opening roster
Rotowire
The Rockies reassigned Tucker to minor-league camp Wednesday.
Tucker's bid for a spot on the Rockies' Opening Day roster as a utility man fell short after he slashed .194/.293/.361 over 18 Cactus League games. He's expected to begin the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Tucker agreed Wednesday with the Rockies on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Tucker will move on to the third organization of his career after previous stops with Pittsburgh and Arizona. He elected free agency this offseason after the Diamondbacks previously cast him off their 40-man roster in July. The 26-year-old utility man finished this past season at Triple-A Reno, where he slashed .237/.297/.325 with two home runs and four stolen bases over 128 plate appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Cole Tucker: Dumped from 40-man roster
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Tucker was outrighted off the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster Thursday and sent to Triple-A Reno.
The 26-year-old was claimed off waivers by Arizona in early June and has spent the past month at Triple-A. Tucker hit .235/.297/.296 with a home run, nine RBI and four stolen bases in 22 games for Reno, so the Diamondbacks opted to remove him from the 40-man roster.
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Diamondbacks' Cole Tucker: Claimed by Arizona
Rotowire
Tucker was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks on Sunday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Tucker was once a very promising prospect for the Pirates, but he is a career .211/.259/.314 hitter in 469 plate appearances, so he was recently designated for assignment. Tucker will presumably report to Triple-A Reno.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Designated for assignment
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Tucker was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Monday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Tucker is still just 25 years old, and the 2014 first-round pick once had a fair amount of prospect pedigree, but he simply hasn't done nearly enough at the big-league level thus far in his career. In 469 plate appearances split across four seasons, he's hit just .211/.259/.314 with five homers and four steals. The Pirates elected to give his roster spot to Yu Chang, who was acquired in a trade with the Guardians.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Sent down Thursday
Rotowire
Tucker was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Tucker had relatively consistent playing time over the first few weeks of the season, but he started in just five of the nine games after returning from the COVID-19 injured list at the beginning of May. Over 18 major-league games this year, the 25-year-old has hit .175 with a triple, a double, three runs, two RBI and a stolen base. He should see more consistent at-bats in the minors, while Rodolfo Castro and Josh VanMeter should see most of the playing time at second base for the Pirates.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Gives up switch-hitting, on bench
Rotowire
Tucker isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Tucker has gone 3-for-14 with a double, a run, an RBI and four strikeouts over the last four games, and he'll be on the bench for the second time in the last three matchups. According to Jerry DiPaola of TribLive.com, Tucker revealed Tuesday that he will abandon switch-hitting and bat exclusively from the left side moving forward, which he believes will give him the best chance at finding consistent success at the plate. For the moment, he appears to have the edge on a strong-side platoon role at second base, though he'll cede the keystone to fellow lefty hitter Josh VanMeter on Wednesday as the Pirates oppose Dodgers right-hander Ryan Pepiot.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Takes seat for Game 1
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Tucker isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Reds.
Tucker sat out in Wednesday's nightcap against the Tigers, and he'll be on the bench for a second straight game. Diego Castillo is starting at shortstop and batting seventh in Saturday's matinee.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Not starting Friday
Rotowire
Tucker isn't starting Friday's game against the Reds, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Tucker started in the first two games after returning from the COVID-19 injured list, and he went 1-for-7 with a run and four strikeouts. However, he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight matchup while Diego Castillo starts at shortstop and bats seventh.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Out for second game of doubleheader
Rotowire
Tucker is out of the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Tigers.
Diego Castillo will replace Tucker at shortstop. Tucker drew the start in the first game of the twin bill, going 1-for-3 with a run scored in the Pirates' 3-2 loss.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Fails to reach base
Rotowire
Tucker went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday against the Padres.
Tucker returned from a five-game absence while in health and safety protocols to start at shortstop and hit eighth. His struggles at the plate continued, as he's now struck out at least once in every game he's played this season, resulting in a 40.0 percent strikeout rate. Tucker is in line to see consistent playing time with Kevin Newman (groin) sidelined, though Diego Castillo could also take over at shortstop if Tucker fails to get going at the plate.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Back in clubhouse
Rotowire
Tucker (illness) returned to the Pirates' clubhouse Friday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Tucker was away from the team for several days after landing on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, but he's now been cleared to participate in team activities. It's not yet clear whether the Pirates will activate him from the IL prior to Friday's series opener against San Diego, but he seems close to being activated.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Returns as expected
Rotowire
Tucker was activated from the COVID-19 injured list as expected Saturday.
Tucker had been away from the team since Tuesday but returned to the team to practice Friday. He hit just .171/.171/.220 through 41 plate appearances to start the season and isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against San Diego.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Getting activated Saturday
Rotowire
Tucker (COVID-19) will be activated Saturday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
He rejoined the team Friday, so this makes sense. Tucker was off to a rough start, hitting .171 with a 39 percent strikeout rate and zero walks through his first 41 at-bats.
The Pirates placed Tucker on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday.
With Bryan Reynolds also joining Tucker on the COVID-19 IL, the Pirates summoned Jack Suwinski and Tucupita Marcano from Double-A Altoona to fill the two openings on the 28-man active roster. Tucker opened the season in a near-everyday role in the outfield, but he's since moved into more of a utility role after posting a lowly .391 OPS through his 41 plate appearances on the campaign.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Losing playing time
Rotowire
Tucker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
After starting in nine of the Pirates' first 11 games, Tucker will now head to the bench for the third time in five contests. Tucker, who has reached base at a lowly .171 clip this season while striking out 39 percent of the time, appears to have lost hold of the top job in right field to Diego Castillo.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Not starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Tucker isn't starting Wednesday against the Brewers.
Tucker drew starts in the last six games and hit .250 with a triple, a run, an RBI, a steal and 10 strikeouts. Diego Castillo will shift to right field while Josh VanMeter starts at second base.
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Pirates' Cole Tucker: Tallies first hits
Rotowire
Tucker went 3-for-5 with a triple and a stolen base Thursday against the Nationals.
Tucker entered the game without a hit across his first 10 at-bats of the season, but he got on the board with a multi-hit effort. He delivered a two-out triple in the third inning but was ultimately stranded. Tucker then led off with a single five frames later and stole second base -- his first swiped bag of the campaign. He's had a regular role in the Pirates' lineup through six games, filling in at both second base and right field.
